KCI Enters into Agreement with 3M Health Care

Kinetic Concepts Inc (San Antonio, Tex) entered into an agreement with 3M Health Care (St. Paul, Minn) for the supply of 3M Tegaderm™ brand transparent film dressings for inclusion in KCI kits with KCI’s V.A.C.® Therapy System in the treatment of complex, hard-to-heal wounds. The newly designed Tegaderm dressing that was configured exclusively for use with V.A.C. Therapy will provide a skin-friendly interface that conforms to the body and flexes with skin for greater patient comfort. Healthcare professionals will find the Tegaderm dressing easier to apply.

     Tegaderm will be packaged with a newly designed and configured GranuFoam® dressing, which will enhance the performance and reliability of V.A.C. Therapy. The first V.A.C. Therapy dressings featuring the Tegaderm brand transparent film dressings are expected to be available the fourth quarter of 2008.
Visit http://www.KCI1.com for more information.

Protein From Human Saliva Accelerates Wound Healing

Scientists from The Netherlands found that histatin, a small protein in saliva once believed to only kill bacteria, significantly accelerates wound healing. Researchers used epithelial cells that line the inner cheek and cultured them in dishes until the surfaces were completely covered with cells. Then they made an artificial wound in the cell layer in each dish by scratching a small piece of the cells away. In one dish, cells were bathed in an isotonic fluid without any additions. In the other dish, cells were bathed in human saliva. Sixteen hours later, scientists noticed that the saliva treated wound was almost completely healed.

     In the dish with the untreated wound a substantial part of the wound was still open. These results proved that human saliva contains a factor that accelerates wound closure of oral cells. Since saliva is a complex liquid with many components, the next step was to identify which component was responsible for wound healing. Using various techniques the researchers split the saliva into its individual components, tested each in their wound model, and finally determined that histatin was responsible for healing.

     This research offers hope to individuals suffering from chronic wounds related to diabetes, traumatic injuries, and burns. Since the compound can be mass-produced the potential for this protein to become as common as antibiotic creams and rubbing alcohol exists.

     Visit http://www.fasebj.org for more information.

ULURU Acquires Bio Med Sciences

ULURU Inc (Addison, Tex) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Bio Med Sciences Inc (Allentown, Pa) for $10 million, subject to adjustment based on revenue targets. The company plans to fund the acquisition through internally generated funds supported by revolving and term debt. The purchase gives ULURU additional complementary products, manufacturing, product development, and other resources in addition to a commercial base to quickly develop a presence in the wound and burn care markets.

     Visit http://www.uluruinc.com for more information.

3M Health Care Secures Licensing Agreement with Greystone Pharmaceuticals

3M Health Care (St. Paul, Minn) and Greystone Pharmaceuticals Inc (Fort Myers, Fla) entered into an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement for wound care products using Greystone’s patented PHI technology, a proprietary formulation that aids in the management of hard-to-heal wounds.

     This is the second agreement between 3M Health Care and Greystone Pharmaceuticals. The first agreement provided 3M Health Care limited distribution rights in Canada and parts of Europe. This new agreement broadens 3M’s rights to the United States and most major countries in the world, starting with the introduction of 3M Tegaderm™ Matrix Dressing with PHI technology to the US market. In addition, 3M will be able to extend the PHI technology platform to other wound care products.

     Visit http://www.3m.com or http://www.greystonepharmaceuticals.com for more information.

Medihoney™ Dressing Line Secures Reimbursement and Marks Commercialization Milestone

Derma Sciences Inc (Princeton, NJ) achieved a significant milestone in the launch of its Medihoney™ dressing line by securing reimbursement codes for the 3 recently released new product formulations. The Statistical Analysis Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier (SADMERC), a contracted intermediary and carrier for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), notified the company of its decision regarding Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for billing purposes for the new MEDIHONEY formulations.

     The products are being widely adopted, as these new formulations will allow customers to use the products on a greater variety of wound types. The new codes will allow applicable customers to bill for all the new dressing formulations. Customers will include Medicare’s Part B Program, private insurance plans, and the various Medicaid programs. Coverage within these programs will allow the company to gain entrance into the long-term care and home health markets, both of which make up a significant share of the overall wound care dressings market.

     Visit http://www.dermasciences.com for more information.