Cold plasma cures chronic wounds: a sparkling solution

Project description

A new solution to treat hard-to-heal wounds

Some wounds have trouble healing. These chronic wounds are a serious health concern with devastating consequences for patients, leading to amputations and loss of independence. In the EU, at least three million people suffer from chronic wounds. To alleviate this issue, the EU-funded PLASOMA project is aiming towards a solution that will improve wound healing. Developed by the Dutch medtech start-up company, Plasmacure, a cold plasma solution brings bactericidal cold plasma directly in the wound. The method consists of disposable plasma pads and a pulser. The pad is put on the wound and connected to the pulser that sends energy to the pad to create cold plasma. To further consolidate the initial encouraging results, a multinational clinical study will be conducted to generate clinical efficacy data.

Objective

Plasmacure has been established in 2014 and currently employs 12 people. We have our own test facilities and technical staff. In 2018, we have received an A-round Investment of €2.2 million. Our mission statement is: We envision a world where people no longer suffer from chronic wounds. In Europe, > 3 million people suffer from this condition. Chronic wounds cause pain, lead to amputations and loss of independence. Average costs are € 12,000 per wound. Currently, 25% of these wounds persist for months or even years. We have developed a medical device (PLASOMA) based on atmospheric cold plasma, which is air that contains highly reactive particles that kill bacteria and stimulate wound healing. It consists of disposable plasma pads and a pulser that emits high voltage pulses to induce the plasma. PLASOMA is the first cold plasma device with demonstrated clinical efficacy: In a first clinical study we showed that PLASOMA can cure at least half of the wounds that currently cannot be cured. PLASOMA increases quality of life, relieves the healthcare workforce and reduces antibiotics use. Should all hard-to-heal wounds be treated with PLASOMA, EU health care costs will decrease with > € 6 billion/yr. We expect to get CE in Q1 2020, after which sales will start.
With the grant we will conduct a multinational clinical study to generate clinical efficacy data with which we can extend our first CE claim (reduce microbial load) to the claim that PLASOMA can cure chronic wounds, apply for reimbursement and get PLASOMA incorporated in the treatment guidelines. We will also develop pads with different sizes and shapes and make the pulser suitable for home use such that we can cover almost the entire wound market. With the equity, we can launch PLASOMA in 4 EU countries. We expect break even in 2024, and, in 2025, a turnover of € 30 million and 55 fte. Around 2026, we expect to enter a strategic partnership with a medical device company or bring Plasmacure to the stock exchange.

Fields of science

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 - SME instrument

Call for proposal

H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-3

Funding Scheme

SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2

Coordinator

PLASMACURE BV

Net EU contribution

€ 2 498 877,00

Address

7 elzentlaan
5611 LG Eindhoven
Netherlands

Region

Zuid-Nederland Noord-Brabant Zuidoost-Noord-Brabant

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

Links

Contact the organisation

Participation in EU R&I programmes

HORIZON collaboration network

Other funding

€ 1 097 510,50