.SmartTRAK discusses a new biomaterials opportunity for medical devices with Michael Ziebell, President and CEO of trū Shrimp.

Shrimp is the most popular seafood in the US with an annual consumption of 1.6 billion pounds and 90% sourced outside the US. trū Shimp has developed a unique aquaculture for raising shrimp that allows production to occur anywhere in the US, even in Minnesota. Michael Ziebell explains the unique features of the process and its ability to produce a novel biomaterial that may be tailored to meet the needs of the medical device industry.

A transcript of SmartTRAK’s interview with Michael Ziebell is below. To listen to the audio interview, click on the video (10:39 minutes). The full transcript, with a link to download a PDF, is provided below.

FY19 showed solid gains in all segments, up +4.1% YoY, as antimicrobial devices take the lead

The prevention of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) continues to drive measures and practices to reduce Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) and is creating demand for products that can address these issues. Numerous programs and educational tools are being developed to provide measures and strategies that assist healthcare providers in the prevention and reduction of infection in acute care and other settings.

According to BioMedGPS' SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard, the Q419 US VA Adjunct Products market saw a solid increase of +3.7% for the four segments: Dressings, Antimicrobial Devices, Antimicrobial IV Skin Preps and Mechanical Securement Devices.

Among the many topics including news, financial data, charts and company revenues, covered in the comprehensive Q419/FY19 Infection Prevention: Vascular Access Adjunct Products Market Recap*, are:

A year of solid growth and acquisitions for the WW AWC market, as 3M moves into the leading position.

For FY19, according to BioMedGPS’ SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard, WW Advanced Wound Care (AWC) revenue for Advanced Dressings, External Devices and Biologics was up +4.7% YoY.

3M captured the number one position in the AWC space after completing the acquisition of Acelity and its KCI subsidiaries on October 11, 2019. According to SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard, in FY19, combined 3M and Acelity seized 22.7% of the market and generated +6.2% YoY growth. Revenue for Q419 was up +6.9% YoY, driven by ongoing strong performance in single-use negative pressure wound therapy and solid growth in Advanced Wound Dressings. 

Among the many topics, including news, financial data, charts and company revenues, covered in the comprehensive Q419/FY19 Advanced Wound Care Market Recap*,  are:

The US market for Hemostats and Sealants grew +5.8% YoY in Q419, comparable to its +6.2% growth in Q319, with continued strength in fibrin sealants and good growth in absorbable hemostats.

As reported in SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard, the US Hemostats and Sealants market maintained a solid growth rate of +5.8% in Q419 and grew +5.7% YoY. Leading the way in Q419 was Becton Dickinson (BD),  as its relaunch of Progel continued its resurgence. Baxter also posted strong gains.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q419/FY19 US Hemostats and Sealants Market Recap* are:

The US Surgical Matrices Market showed robust growth in Q419, improving on Q319. Breast matrices rebounded from its Q319 malaise, while hernia matrices grew YoY.

In Q419, the US Surgical Matrices Market grew +8.5% YoY, and was up +4.2% for FY19 according to BioMedGPS’ SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard. Allergan broke out of its  Alloderm supply constraints, and Becton Dickinson (BD) also did quite well.

• Q419 Breast Matrices market found its groove again, up YoY. For FY19 Breast Matrices grew well, despite several weak quarters.
• Q419 US Hernia Matrices market increased its growth, with the highest growth rate in biosynthetics and with both xenografts and allografts showing surprising strength. For the year, Hernia Matrices edged up.
• Allergan beat its supply constraints and maintained its leadership of the Breast Matrices market, as Alloderm returned to the market in force. For the full year, Allergan slid due to those Alloderm supply problems.
• BD maintained its No. 1 position in the Q419 Hernia Matrices market.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q419/FY19 US Surgical Matrices Market Recap* are:

Marcia Nusgart, Executive Director, Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, discusses the upcoming Wound Care Evidence Summit and improving payer coverage in an interview with SmartTRAK.

In the market for wound care products, the success of any product is highly dependent on whether or not manufacturers are able to obtain a positive coverage determination from public and commercial payers. In the last several years, obtaining product reimbursement has been more challenging as payers are restricting coverage for a growing number of wound care products due to a lack of clarity surrounding clinical evidence.

So, what are payers looking for? What and how much clinical evidence do payers need to cover wound care products and procedures? How can manufacturers prepare scientific evidence to meet payer needs, improve coverage and achieve more uniform policies for treating wounds in all healthcare settings? To answer these questions and more, the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders is convening payers, regulators, researchers, manufacturers and wound care providers at its upcoming Wound Care Evidence Summit to be held April 1-2, 2020 in Washington, DC.

To find out about the Summit, improving payer coverage and opportunities for industry, SmartTRAK’s Susan Paquette interviewed Marcia Nusgart, Executive Director of the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders.

A panel session at ACS Clinical Congress 2019 examines the evidence behind currently proposed techniques to prevent incisional hernias after midline laparotomy closure, including the use of prophylactic mesh and small-bite 4:1 suture closure.

At the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2019, there was an important session in which panelists discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using prophylactic mesh after closure of midline laparotomies to prevent incisional hernias. Ajita Prabhu, MD and Benjamin Poulose, MD moderated the panel session on October 28, 2019.

Heidi Miller, MD of University of New Mexico gave background on risk factors for incisional hernias, which she estimated at 12-13% incidence after closure of a laparotomy. She characterized incisional hernias as “mostly due to technical failures,” including poor wound hemostasis or coagulopathy, too much inflammation of the wound and the associated abnormal collagen structure, and sutures without proper tension. With respect to the latter topic, she described how she likes to view the hernia as a chronic wound, with proliferation and remodeling dependent on proper tension of approximation. She also described modifiable risk factors associated with the patient. Smoking and diabetes affect tissue perfusion, with strong data supporting tissue ischemia associated with smoking. Tissue perfusion greatly affects wound healing, as do modifiable factors that affect inflammation, including proper wound care, nutrition (especially vitamin A intake) and obesity, which is associated with chronic inflammation. Additionally, obesity is also associated with increased risk of wound dehiscence and increased mechanical stress tending to open the wound ...

SmartTRAK is pleased to welcome Anikó Szekér, the newest addition to our Wound Care team. Anikó has 10+ years of medical device experience in Wound Care and Surgical single use products. Before joining SmartTRAK, Anikó was  Marketing Manager, Eastern Europe Wound Care and Surgical at Mölnlycke Health Care.