Derma Sciences, a medical device and pharmaceutical company focused on advanced wound care, has successfully extended an additional three years on its current 'Bioguard' licensing agreement with Quick-Med Technologies.
Bioguard is the non-leaching antimicrobial dressing. Derma has received FDA clearance in February, 2009 and had its first commercial sale of the product in June 2009. The dressings serve as a barrier to infection, kill germs absorbed into the dressing, and do not interfere with tissue healing.
Derma claimed that the dressing’s active agent maintains effectiveness even in the presence of large amounts of proteinaceous exudates. The technology within Bioguard dressings is protected by nine US patents pending and 24 foreign counterparts.
The contract extension results in a potential 8-year term for Derma Sciences’ newest product entrant into the $14bn global advanced wound care market. Additionally, Derma will have expanded exclusivity to include the majority of remaining gauze-based products, including non-woven gauze dressings.
Ed Quilty, CEO of Derma Sciences, said: “Our initial sales, along with our recently announced Acute Care distribution agreement with Medline Industries, position us well to maximize sales of this important dressing. The expanded term and scope of the agreement will help to make this brand a key contributor to our overall success for years to come.”
Ladd Greeno, CEO of Quick-Med, said: “Quick-Med is excited to enter into this amended license agreement with Derma Sciences. Derma has successfully demonstrated its ability to quickly commercialize our proprietary NIMBUS technology and the expanded grant of rights provides them with important additional products.”
Barry Wolfenson, vice president of marketing and business development at Derma Sciences, said: “This extension is an important development for us. We are confident that Bioguard will earn a leading position in the wound care market as a key cost-effective antimicrobial dressing.
“Due to its properties, it can be used preventatively on many wound types without concern regarding over-usage and the creation of resistant microbial strains. This is a key differentiator against other common antimicrobial wound dressings, usage of which is limited to only those wounds that already have high bacterial counts.”