SMITH & NEPHEW ENTERS NPWT RENTAL MARKET
       Smith & Nephew (London, UK) in collaboration with Universal Hospital Services Inc (Edina, Minn) reached an agreement with to bring their negative pressure wound therapy products to the US rental market.
       The distribution agreement covers Smith & Nephew’s EZCARE^™ and V1STA^™ product systems and focuses on the US Acute Care market. Universal Hospital Services Inc will support Smith & Nephew’s clinical platform in providing comprehensive wound rentals, logistics, and distribution support to customers.
       Visit http://www.smith-nephew.com for more information.

MEDMARKET DILIGENCE REPORT PUTS WOUND MANAGEMENT MARKET POTENTIAL INTO PERSPECTIVE
       The size of the worldwide wound management market is ultimately driven by the clinical need for advanced wound management products. That need is most clearly reflected in the prevalence of chronic wounds and burns. Current estimates put the total annual incidence of chronic wounds at almost 9 million worldwide. A portion of these is accounted for by the 177 million cases of diabetes worldwide; 10%–15% of patients with diabetes will develop ulcers at some point. The market for products used in the management of venous stasis (as in chronic venous ulcers) is estimated to surpass $3 billion, while the decubitus ulcer market is in excess of $2 billion. Sales of products used to treat diabetic foot ulcers are estimated around $1.5 billion, and the market for burn dressings is approximately $60 million.
       The MedMarket Diligence report, Worldwide Wound Management, 2007–2016, details the current and projected market for wound management products, including dressings, closure devices, debridement, pharmacological products, tissue engineered products, and others. Particular emphasis is placed on advanced and leading edge developments (ie, those approaching wound management from novel perspective) such as growth factors, stem cells, gene therapy, and other approaches, while baseline data (current and forecast market size and current competitor market shares) is provided for established segments—multiple dressings types (film, foam, alginate, antibacterial, nonadherent), hydrogels, hydrocolloids, pharmaceuticals, and physical treatments.
       The report details the clinical and technology developments underlying this huge and evolving worldwide market, with data on products in development and on the market; market size and forecast; competitor market shares; competitor profiles; and market opportunity. Separate size, growth, and competitor data are presented for the US, leading western European countries, Japan, and the Rest of World category. The report profiles leading and emerging companies, with profiles providing detailed profile information on major competitors, brief profiles of companies with less sizable current or potential positions in the market, and additional profiles of companies with novel or advanced research activities in the market.
       Visit http://www.mediligence.com/rpt/rpt-s245.htm for more information.

ALLTRACEL AND CONVATEC ENTER CONTRACT AGREEMENT
       Alltracel Pharmaceuticals Plc (Dublin, Ireland) has signed a new collaborative technology development agreement with ConvaTec (Princeton, NJ). The new arrangement is an extension of a previous deal between the companies and will be funded by ConvaTec. The deal’s successful conclusion may lead to an exclusive royalty-bearing license and supply agreement between both companies.
       Visit http://www.alltec.org/us for more information.

CARDIUM THERAPEUTICS INITIATES PHASE II TRIAL ON NONHEALING DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS
       Cardium Therapeutics (San Diego, Calif) and its subsidiary, the Tissue Repair Company, announce the start of a Phase IIb clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Excellarate^™ for the potential treatment of nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers.
       Excellerate is a DNA-based topical gel being developed to help stimulate wound healing. Utilizing the Tissue Repair Company’s Gene Activated Matrix^™ technology and platelet-derived growth factor- BB protein (PDGF-BB), the product stimulates angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation through the proliferation of cells such as monocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, necessary for the wound healing process.
       Visit http://www.cardiumthx.com for more information.