EUROPEAN WOUND CARE MARKET PROJECTS EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

According to an analysis by Frost & Sullivan (London, England), the $1.1 billion European wound care market is slated to grow an annual average of 10%–12% from 2003 through 2009. This growth is expected as a result of traditional dressing and advanced wound care dressing markets. Growth in the advanced dressing market is projected to outstrip that of the traditional market, powering overall revenues to an estimated $2 billion by 2009.

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MACROCHEM SIGNS LICENSING AGREEMENT FOR PEXIGANAN

MacroChem Corporation (Wellesley, Mass) signed an option to acquire exclusive worldwide licensing rights for drug uses of Pexiganan from the Genaera Corporation. Pexiganan is a small peptide anti-infective used for topical treatment of patients with mild diabetic foot infection.
Clinical trials with Pexiganan previously conducted by Genaera included 2 Phase III trials submitted in a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998. At that time, outstanding issues with Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls and an FDA request for one additional controlled trial precluded approval.

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KANE BIOTECH CONFIRMS POSITIVE RESULTS FROM IN-VITRO STUDY OF DISPERSIN B AND LYTIC BACTERIOPHAGE

Kane Biotech Inc (Winnipeg, Canada) revealed positive results from an in-vitro study using Dispersin B and lytic bacteriophage to treat chronic wound infections.
The study showed that the combination of Dipsersin B with a bacteriophage mixture was effective against biofilm-embedded E coli.
Specifically, the Dispersin B and bacteriophage mixture showed almost 99% inhibition of E coli growth compared to only 9% growth by the bacteriophage alone over a 4-day treatment period. This combination therapy can provide a new and highly effective method of treating chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers.

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PIERRE GUYOT APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF MÖLNLYCKE HEALTH CARE

Mölnlycke Health Care (Gothenburg, Sweden) recently appointed Pierre Guyot, former President of Wound Care Division, to Chief Executive Officer and President. Mölnlycke Health Care is a world leading manufacturer of single-use surgical and wound care products and services for the professional health sector.

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PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY USED FOR TREATING MICROBIAL DISEASE IN WOUNDS

The IP Group Photopharmica (Leeds, UK) announces the completion of the first Phase II placebo-controlled clinical trial using topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of microbial disease in wounds. The trial employed Photopharmica’s proprietary drug, PPA 904, a photosensitiser belonging to the phenothiazinium family.
The trial proved that a single treatment achieved a statistically significant bacterial load reduction in chronic leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers. Photopharmica plans to carry out further trials of PPA 904 in bacterially colonized chronic ulcers beginning in 2008.