Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

An innovative topical drug delivery system for improving chronic wound healing

Article Category

Article available in the following languages:

Gel-based innovation brings hope to chronic wound patients

Gels that dry into films once applied to chronic wounds can deliver targeted medication to affected areas. This will accelerate healing, reduce the risk of infection and improve the lives of patients.

Health icon Health

Unlike most wounds that get better without further assistance, chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, do not heal in an orderly and timely manner. These conditions cause discomfort and distress for patients, and drain medical systems of an enormous amount of resources. “Such injuries can lead to infection, pain and in some severe cases even amputation,” notes StrataGRT project coordinator Eduardo Serrano, chief scientific officer at Stratpharma in Switzerland. “Ageing populations like ours are more vulnerable to diseases like diabetes, which can lead to chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers.” Currently, healthcare providers use physical dressings as the first treatment for chronic wounds. These are often supplemented with antibiotics, in order to reduce the chance of infections and sepsis. More advanced treatment methods such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, vacuum-assisted closure therapy and skin grafts require specialised equipment, and are associated with higher costs. “Antibiotic-based treatments face a number of challenges, including antibiotic resistance and associated side effects,” says Serrano. “These can include microbiome disruption, severe burning of the skin and swollen glands. Nearly 20 % of patients experience adverse effects from antibiotic exposure.” Furthermore, the use of non-transparent bandages makes it difficult to detect complications, and such dressings are often only optimal for wounds on flat surfaces. “Dressings often come with pre-applied adhesives, which have also been shown to cause allergic reactions,” adds Serrano.

Radical new treatment

To address these challenges, Stratpharma has developed StrataGRT, a new treatment for chronic wounds. These dressings come in the form of gels that dry into films once applied to affected areas of the body. Initial testing has confirmed the potential of these film-forming gels as a viable new drug delivery system. “The gels have demonstrated excellent properties for getting wound healing medication directly to the wound site,” says Serrano. “We think this innovation has potential, not only for chronic wound applications but also for treating premature babies, various inflammatory diseases and gynaecological conditions.” This 4-month EU-funded project enabled Stratpharma to focus on preparing their innovation for market. This involved identifying a viable development path, and confirming necessary user requirements and product specifications. The Stratpharma team were also able to evaluate potential market opportunities and validate their commercialisation strategy. “To get the product to market, we are now at the stage where more cost-intensive steps are needed,” explains Serrano. “These include clinical studies and scaling up manufacturing. This is where the EU funding came in useful. Without this, we might have had to further delay the launch of this product.”

Quality of life

While not yet ready for commercialisation, Serrano and his team are confident that their innovation will positively impact patients and healthcare workers alike. Potential customers include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, patient care centres and pharmacies. An important next step will be to conduct a comprehensive study of the European reimbursement landscape across Europe. “This EU project was perfectly aligned with our core business strategy of creating new treatments for chronic wounds,” says Serrano. “We have been able to show that StrataGRT is a safe, simple and non-invasive solution.” Successful development through clinical validation will advance StrataGRT towards market approval, and ultimately improve the quality of life of patients.

Keywords

StrataGRT, wound, foot, ulcers, diabetes, gel, sepsis, antibiotics, inflammatory, nursing, patient

Discover other articles in the same domain of application