ConvaTec awarded for innovative wound dressing

A unique dressing designed to promote healing in chronic wounds 

Millions of people across the world develop skin wounds that fail to heal normally and quickly. Such wounds are often referred to as chronic wounds, and include leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure ulcers, etc.

In recent decades, a priority for ConvaTec Hong Kong has been to improve the lives of people suffering with chronic, non-healing wounds. ConvaTec’s mission started with a commitment to understanding why so many wounds fail to heal. Through scientific research that started in the early 2000’s, ConvaTec scientists began to understand that bacteria (the microbes that cause wound infection) produce a slimy matrix around themselves called biofilm, that prevents wounds from healing and provides protection from antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics.

The discovery that biofilm prevents wound healing led ConvaTec scientists to conduct research into ways to break down biofilm to expose the bacteria to antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics and antiseptics(e.g., silver). Over a three-year period, scientists at ConvaTec undertook research to identify agents that could most effectively break-down biofilm and allow an antimicrobial agent (silver) to work much more effectively. The resulting technology was incorporated into a dressing (AQUACEL Ag+ Extra) that has now been shown in clinical studies to facilitate healing in previously non-healing wounds across the world. Following commercialization of the AQUACEL Ag+ Extra wound dressing, ConvaTec has conducted and published many scientific and clinical studies. In one study, 10 out of 29 wounds with an average duration of 7 months healed completely within four to seven weeks once AQUACEL® Ag+ Extra was introduced into a protocol of care[1]. The dressing has also been shown to quickly promote healing in wounds that had previously failed to heal despite being treated with antibiotics or topical antimicrobial agents[2].

Through ConvaTec’s commitment to understanding why many wounds fail to heal, and subsequently discovering ConvaTec the impact of biofilm and technologies to combat biofilm, ConvaTec was awarded the Health Products and Services Award in the recently concluded Hong Kong Business International Business Awards. The annual programme honours first-rate international businesses in Hong Kong and awards outstanding foreign firms who stand out and can launch award-winning products and services.

The clinical benefits of AQUACEL® Ag+ Extra in the management of hard-to-heal wounds reinforce ConvaTec’s reputation as a scientifically driven and innovative company that focuses on developing novel medical devices to improve the lives of patients suffering from chronic conditions. ConvaTec also previously received the prestigious award of “The Most Innovative Dressing in Wound Care” for AQUACEL® Ag+ Extra at the World Union of Wound Healing Societies conference in Italy in 2016.

1. Metcalf D, Parsons D, Bowler P. A next-generation antimicrobial wound dressing: a real-life clinical evaluation in the UK and Ireland. Journal of Wound Care. 2016. 25(3): 133-139.

2. Metcalf DG, Parsons D, Bowler PG. Clinical safety and effectiveness evaluation of a new antimicrobial wound dressing designed to manage exudate, infection and biofilm. International Wound Journal. 2017. 14(1): 203-213