1. SMITH+NEPHEW
1.1. A newly published multicentre randomised controlled trial demonstrates Smith+Nephew PICO single‐use negative pressure wound therapy system as superior to traditional negative pressure wound therapy system in reducing wound area, depth, and volume in diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers
Smith+Nephew announced the publication of results from a new randomised controlled trial (RCT) demonstrating that the use of PICO single‐use negative pressure wound therapy system (sNPWT) significantly reduced wound area, depth, and volume compared with traditional negative pressure wound therapy (tNPWT) in patients with venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).
Chronic wounds cause substantial morbidity and mortality and can lead to significant medical costs. In the United States alone, chronic wounds affect 6 million people, with increasing numbers anticipated in growing elderly and diabetic populations. One study showed that, in a single year, chronic wounds cost $9.7 billion in the United States. Venous or arterial insufficiency, diabetes, and local‐pressure effects are the most common causes of chronic wounds. Chronic wounds can be managed with tNPWT, but it can be complex to use and limit patient mobility.
The randomised, controlled, multicentre study was conducted at 16 centres in the United States and two centres in Canada, comparing the efficacy and safety of PICO sNPWT with tNPWT in the management of patients with lower extremity ulcers with a duration longer than 4 weeks over 12 weeks. A total of 164 patients were randomised to receive either PICO sNPWT or tNPWT.
A greater average reduction in wound area of 39.1%, depth of 32.5%, and volume of 91.1% vs tNPWT was observed with PICO sNPWT. There was a 51% relative increase in the number of patients achieving wound closure at 12 weeks with PICO sNPWT vs tNPWT. Dressing changes were less frequent with PICO sNPWT than with tNPWT, with mean reported 6.8 fewer changes and 3.4 days longer wear time. Overall satisfaction was also greater with PICO sNPWT, and fewer patients had adverse events with PICO sNPWT than with tNPWT.
“I decided to use PICO Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System to treat a DFU, after achieving excellent results using the therapy on skin flaps and full thickness skin grafts”, says Rosemary Hill, Wound Ostomy Nurse at Lions Gate Hospital, Vancouver. “By introducing PICO as an early intervention for lower extremity ulcers, we've been able to help kick‐start wound healing and ultimately improve the quality of life for patients who experience a faster and more predictable healing trajectory, as well as being mobile and able to resume treatment at home.”
The unique PICO sNPWT dressing includes the proprietary AIRLOCK Technology for uniform and consistent delivery of therapeutic NPWT across a wound and the surrounding zone of injury. By minimising the need for fillers and reducing dressing change frequency compared with traditional NPWT1, PICO sNPWT helps healing to progress undisturbed, contributing to faster time to healing, improved quality and distribution of granulation tissue, and more consistent reepithelialisation.
PICO sNPWT has a strong evidence base with 103 published papers, of which 21 are published RCTs and 65 are unique clinical studies.
To learn more about PICO sNPWT, see www.smith-nephew.com/kirsner
2. COLOPLAST
2.1. Coloplast awarded enterostomal therapy products agreement with Premier Inc
The agreement allows Premier members access to Coloplast's full portfolio of ostomy products, including ostomy pouches and supporting products.
“We are delighted that Premier has added us to their enterostomal therapy contract. Coloplast shares Premier's core values to improve patient outcomes and provide value to its customers, and we look forward to doing exactly that for Premier's membership”, says Senior Vice President Manu Varma, Chronic Care North America.
The agreement is multi‐source and effective for 3 years beginning 1 April 2020. Premier is a leading health care improvement company, uniting an alliance of approximately 4000 US hospitals and hospital systems and more than 175 000 other providers to transform health care.
2.1.1. About Coloplast ostomy care products
Coloplast's range of innovative ostomy products are designed to reduce leakage and maintain healthy skin. With the SenSura Mio portfolio and BodyFit Technology, Coloplast has taken fit, flexibility, and comfort to a new level, creating a portfolio of innovative ostomy solutions that reduce the burden of leakage and enable users to live the life they want to lead.
In addition to product solutions, Coloplast has developed Coloplast Care, the only patient support programme option with better patient outcomes. Coloplast Care provides ostomy users access to education and tools for self‐assessment and individualised support from Care Advisors. Coloplast Care provides reliable information, so ostomy users can better manage their care and experience a full life.
3. CONVATEC
ConvaTec Group, a leading global medical technology company, announced the release of ConvaMax, the NEW superabsorber dressing distributed by ConvaTec. The global superabsorber market is currently greater than $100 million, growing at +7%.
ConvaMax superabsorber wound dressing is used for the management of highly exuding wounds, including leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, DFUs, and dehisced surgical wounds.
ConvaMax superabsorber manages excess moisture to help protect skin integrity. Where there is a real risk of skin damage because of high levels of exudate, ConvaMax is ideal. It is available in non‐adhesive and silicone adhesive forms, providing complete flexibility to the support care protocol. This includes under compression bandaging or with an additional primary dressing.
ConvaTec is committed to innovating their product pipeline, providing both their customers and patients with further differentiated technologies and complete solutions for managing chronic and acute wounds.
David Shepherd, President of ConvaTec's Advanced Wound Care Franchise, believes that: “ConvaMax will add to our already strong wound portfolio. ConvaMax gives us a great product for highly exuding wounds; the reception from our sales and marketing colleagues and the expert customers who have seen the dressings already has been extremely positive, and we look forward to a similar reaction as countries begin to launch the product in the coming months.”
4. JOHNSON & JOHNSON
4.1. Center for Health Worker Innovation will catalyse efforts to respond to human resource crisis in global health and build a thriving health workforce
Johnson & Johnson announced a $250 million commitment to frontline health workers through the company's founding of the new Center for Health Worker Innovation. Recognising the World Health Organization (WHO) Year of the Nurse and Midwife and the critical role health workers play in early detection and response to pandemics such as the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Center will support one million nurses, midwives, and community health workers by 2030, reaching 100 million patients.
The Center responds to the WHO's projected shortage of more than 18 million frontline health workers by 2030, as well as the quality crisis in low‐and middle‐income country health systems. It recognises that the achievement of the health‐related Sustainable Development Goals and effective pandemic preparedness are anchored in well‐functioning primary and community health systems, with frontline health workers at their heart.
“Even the most innovative solutions cannot successfully treat or prevent a disease without trained, equipped frontline health workers to administer them to a patient,” said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer at Johnson & Johnson. “This program continues J&J's century‐long legacy of support for nurses, midwives, and community health workers around the globe through our new Center for Health Worker Innovation.”
For decades, Johnson & Johnson has partnered with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to advance the health of children worldwide, including a $10 million commitment made on World Children's Day 2018. “Every five seconds, a child somewhere around the world dies, mostly from conditions that can be prevented and treated,” said Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore of UNICEF. “We commend Johnson & Johnson's continued commitment to those on the front lines of children's health — skilled and equipped community health workers, nurses, and midwives.”
Johnson & Johnson is also proud to work alongside the South African government as they strengthen the link between communities and primary care in pursuit of universal health coverage. Nationally scaled digital health programmes such as MomConnect and NurseConnect, support communities and frontline health workers with vital health information and communication channels. The Center for Health Worker Innovation is now collaborating with the South African Ministry of Health to cocreate an action plan to address the critical gaps faced by community health workers as they work to improve access to health care for all South Africans.
“A well‐supported frontline health workforce is key to meeting our vision of a long and healthy life for all South Africans,” said Dr Yogan Pillay, Deputy‐Director General in the South African National Department of Health. “When we empower health workers and the patients they serve, the whole health system benefits.”
“The Johnson & Johnson Center for Health Worker Innovation is an enterprise‐wide effort to inspire, recruit, train, retain, and mobilize frontline health workers because in solving the challenges they face, we can improve healthcare for everyone,” said Lauren Moore, Vice President, Global Community Impact at Johnson & Johnson. “No single institution can solve the human resource crisis in global health alone — but together, we can create a world where resilient frontline health workers provide the world's most vulnerable people with the quality care they need to live full, healthy lives.”
4.1.1. About Center for Health Worker Innovation
The Johnson & Johnson Center for Health Worker Innovation is a virtual centre that will pursue an initial set of five priorities. In the tradition of their Credo to “put people first,” they have adopted a human‐centred approach, impacting the system by first focusing on the needs of an individual health worker and what he or she needs to thrive on the job.
Respect & Recognition — ensuring frontline health workers are valued by the communities they serve and accredited and compensated by government and health systems.
Training & Education — ensuring frontline health workers have the skills and capabilities they require to deliver their services with confidence and quality.
Leadership & Management — ensuring frontline health workers have opportunities to grow as leaders and have access to effective management.
Well‐being & Resilience — ensuring frontline health workers can prioritise their own health and access resources to manage the stress and demands of the job.
Connection & Integration — ensuring frontline health workers are connected to each other, to communities, and to health systems.
To learn more, visit: http://www.jnj.com/CHWI and follow us on social media at @JNJGlobalHealth.
News and views. Int Wound J. 2020;17:242–244. 10.1111/iwj.13323