NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals, a developer and manufacturer of medical products that fight infection and the Advanced Wound Management division of Smith Nephew plc announced today that the US Food Drug Administration (FDA) granted marketing clearance for Acticoat Flex. Acticoat Flex is an antimicrobial barrier dressing designed to conform to body contours and allow for flexible movement for injuries that require sustained antimicrobial activity. Acticoat(TM) Flex represents a new addition to the Acticoat family and is coated with NUCRYST's patented SILCRYST nanocrystalline silver technology.
"We are pleased that the US FDA has granted marketing clearance for Acticoat Flex," says David B. Holtz, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of NUCRYST. "The launch of Acticoat Flex by Smith Nephew is the latest result of the successful partnership between Smith Nephew and NUCRYST to provide advanced antimicrobial protection to acute trauma and burn patients, as well as to patients with complex chronic wounds."
The Acticoat brand is a leader in the antimicrobial advanced wound care market. Acticoat Flex simplifies the dressing of wounds with its unique conformable design that easily contours to surfaces, including difficult-to-protect articulating regions such as knee or elbow joints.
"We are delighted with the US FDA clearance for Acticoat Flex. We have had excellent feedback from Canada where Acticoat Flex was launched at the end of 2008. The approval from the FDA allows us to further roll out the technology and support the fight against healthcare acquired infection" comments Roger Teasdale, President of Smith Nephew's Advanced Wound Management business. "This product launch is a key to our focus on Infection Management, one of the three focused elements of the Wound Management Global Business Unit strategy along with Exudate Management and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy."
About Acticoat Dressings with SILCRYST Nanocrystals
Antimicrobial barrier dressings are used to help prevent infection, a major cause of delays in the wound healing process. Acticoat dressings with NUCRYST's proprietary SILCRYST nanocrystalline silver coatings provide effective antimicrobial activity thereby providing an improved environment for the wound to heal. Acticoat dressings are now sold by Smith Nephew in over 30 countries and are used extensively for serious wounds and traumatic injury.
About Smith Nephew
Smith Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.
Smith Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2008 were $3.8 billion.
About NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals
NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals develops, manufactures and commercializes medical products that fight infection and inflammation using SILCRYST, its patented atomically disordered nanocrystalline silver technology. NUCRYST licensed world-wide rights for SILCRYST wound care coating products to Smith Nephew plc, which markets these products in over 30 countries under their Acticoat trademark. NUCRYST is also developing pharmaceutical products to address medical conditions that are characterized by pain, infection and inflammation. The Company has developed its proprietary nanocrystalline silver in a powder form, referred to as NPI 32101, for use in medical devices and as an active pharmaceutical ingredient.