KCI
KCI Licenses Wright Medical's GRAFTJACKET® Brand for Wound Care
Deal Enables Full Commercialization of Regenerative Tissue Matrix Technology for Wound Care Patients, Including Those with Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. announced an agreement to license Wright Medical Group, Inc.'s GRAFTJACKET® brand for use in marketing the LifeCell™ acellular human dermal‐based regenerative tissue matrix for wound applications such as diabetic foot ulcers and venous stasis ulcers. KCI's Active Healing Solutions™ business unit will sell the LifeCell™ regenerative tissue matrix under the GRAFTJACKET® brand name. Patients can be conveniently treated with GRAFTJACKET® Matrix as part of the overall treatment regimen, in a variety of care settings, including outpatient wound care clinics, physicians' offices, or as a hospital inpatient.
The addition of GRAFTJACKET® Matrix allows KCI to offer both negative pressure wound therapy and regenerative tissue matrix for the treatment of hard‐to‐heal wounds, providing clinicians two leading modalities for treating patients across the wound healing continuum. KCI is already a market leader in negative pressure wound therapy for challenging wounds with the V.A.C.® Therapy System. GRAFTJACKET® Matrix may be used in conjunction with NPWT, such as V.A.C.® Therapy, providing a convenient option in caring for chronic wounds.
In published clinical studies, GRAFTJACKET® Matrix provided physicians and their patients a treatment option that showed a higher probability of healing when used as part of the standard treatment regimen. A study showed that most diabetic foot ulcers can be successfully treated with one application of GRAFTJACKET® Matrix, offering significant potential savings for the patient and the health care system. Equally important, many insurers, including Medicare, cover the use of GRAFTJACKET® Matrix for chronic wounds.
GRAFTJACKET® Regenerative Tissue Matrix is indicated for repair or replacement of damaged or inadequate integumental tissue, such as diabetic ulcers, or for other homologous uses of human integument. Proprietary processing allows the body to accept GRAFTJACKET® Matrix and reduces the potential for a rejection response. GRAFTJACKET® Matrix provides immediate coverage to the wound and is readily repopulated with the patient's own cells and revascularized by the body. Ultimately, GRAFTJACKET® Matrix acts as a scaffold that allows the body to convert the matrix to functional host tissue in ulcer repair.
MÖLNLYCKE HEALTH CARE
Mölnlycke Health Care makes Wound Care history in China
Mölnlycke Health Care China has set up the MHC‐Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Wound & Scar Treatment Centre (The Guangzhou Centre), with the Burn, and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Department of the Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital.
The Guangzhou Centre was inaugurated by His Honourable, Director Wen Waiquan, Medical Affairs Department, Guangdong Provincial Health Bureau, and His Honourable, Lennart Nilsson, Swedish Trade Counsellor for Southern China, at the Guanghzou Red Cross Hospital in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China on Saturday, January 22, 2011. The event was attended by senior provincial government officials, national and provincial key opinion leaders in the field of burn and wound therapy.
The Guangzhou Centre will be the first MHC Wound & Scar Treatment Centre in Southern China and modeled after the Mölnlycke Health Care‐Peking Union Medical College Hospital Best Practice Wound & Scar Treatment Reference Unit inaugurated by His Excellency Mr. Lars Fresden, Swedish Ambassador to China on September 17, 2010 in Beijing.
The MHC Wound & Scar Treatment Centres in China are supported by Mölnlycke Health Care Wound Care Division to promote best practice in wound and scar therapy, serve as a model of its kind in exchange of KOLs within and out‐side of China and as a learning centre for clinicians in advanced wound care.
MHC China is a wholly owned branch of Mölnlycke Health Care AB, located in Gothenburg, Sweden, a leading research and development based medical device company specializing in advanced wound care and surgical solutions founded in 1849. MHC China has become a leading wound care solution provider to teaching and general hospitals in the top 30 cities in China. It has also been recognized as the leader in helping hospitals to set‐up Wound & Scar Treatment Centres, and provides residential training to chiefs and directors of Burn, and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery departments in key medical centres in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.
Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital is a 1,000‐bed teaching hospital affiliated with Jinan University Medical College founded in 1904. It also serves as the National Centre in Clinical Pharmacy in adverse drug reactions and clinical research. The hospital undertakes clinical research, education and training, and provides medical treatment for both in‐ and out‐ patients. The Burn, and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Department is the designated Clinical Research Centre of the State Food & Drug Administration and has 80‐beds dedicated to clinical teaching and is the largest burn centre in Southern China supported by 61 clinicians including 24 qualified surgeons.
CONVATEC
ConvaTec Announces New Appointments to Leadership Team
Changes Align with Company's Commitment to Growth
On February 7, 2011, ConvaTec, a world‐leading developer and marketer of innovative medical technologies for community and hospital care, announced the appointment of several executives to new positions within the company.
Nino Pionati has been appointed President, Intercontinental in a newly aligned region that will include Asia Pacific, Latin America and Canada. These markets continue to be a strategic focus for growth for the company. He will continue as a member of the Executive Committee and will serve as the Executive Sponsor for the company emerging markets growth initiatives.
Jorgen Hansen has been appointed Senior Vice President, Global Marketing and Business Development. In his role, Hansen will be responsible for expanding access to, and commercialization of, critical innovations to drive growth. Hansen will serve as a new member of the Executive Committee.
Robbie Heginbotham has been named interim Vice President, Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain following the departure of Cheryl Capps. In this role he will focus on developing best‐in‐class quality and service initiatives while maximizing operational effectiveness of the global manufacturing process and network. Heginbotham will act as an interim member of the Executive Committee.
“I am confident that these changes in leadership will help to further accelerate our growth and maintain our agility and responsiveness to the ever‐changing market needs,” stated David Johnson, CEO, ConvaTec. “Each of these leaders brings a tremendous depth of experience and knowledge to their important new roles.”
SMITH & NEPHEW
Smith & Nephew Joins World Environment Center to Advance Sustainable Business Practices
Smith & Nephew, the global medical technology business, and the World Environment Center (WEC) jointly announced today that Smith & Nephew has been elected as WEC's newest Corporate Member. Headquartered in London, England, Smith & Nephew operates in 32 countries, with major manufacturing operations in the U.S. and the U.K., as well as in Europe and China.
Smith & Nephew has a long‐standing commitment to sustainability and, most recently, reinforced its leadership with the creation of a role of Senior Vice President of Corporate Sustainability. Smith & Nephew believes that incorporating environmental and social considerations into the business culture will yield benefits to our global customers and shareholders though improved efficiencies, reduced environmental impacts, enhanced community engagement and stronger brand awareness.
Don Young, Senior Vice President Corporate Sustainability for Smith & Nephew who represents the company to WEC said, “Since I was appointed to my new role at Smith & Nephew in July 2010, I have been working with our talented and committed teams throughout our global operations to evaluate and strengthen our Health, Safety and Environment and our broader sustainability strategies. Our membership with the World Environment Center provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with other global industry leaders to identify and deliver pragmatic, sustainable business solutions. I very much look forward to a productive relationship with this powerful collection of business sector leaders.”
“The World Environment Center welcomes Smith & Nephew as the first company from the medical technology sector into its membership,” stated Terry F. Yosie, WEC's President and CEO. “Smith & Nephew's focus on innovation and value creation is a key ingredient of a successful sustainable development strategy that provides thought leadership well beyond its own business sector.”
Congratulations to Smith & Nephew on this prestigious membership!!