Smith & Nephew wins prestigious Galien Award for PICO Negative Pressure Wound Therapy innovation

PARIS, Dec. 21, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smith & Nephew, (LSE:SN) (NYSE:SNN), the global medical technology business, has been awarded the 2016 French Galien Award for PICO; the novel single-use negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/34f0869f-bf31-4690-8a41-980b674b8db2.

The Prix Galien acknowledges significant advances in pharmaceuticals and medical devices which deliver real improvements to human life. The prize, awarded in the Medical Disability Compensation and Return to Social Life category, rewards Smith & Nephew's determination to improve the daily lives of patients and professionals with the management of wounds.  

Managing Director of Smith & Nephew SAS (France), Bertrand L'Huillier, said: "Receiving the Galien Award is a huge honour and recognition of our contribution to medical research and ability to innovate.  It is also a great encouragement to continue our investment to support healthcare professionals in their daily efforts to improve the lives of patients worldwide."

Improving community healthcare and patient outcomes

Managing wounds, whether chronic, acute or post-surgical, has a significant impact to a patients' quality of life as well as a financial impact on the health economyi. Chronic wounds are often hard to heal, resulting in a cycle of pain, anxiety, frequent home visits and reduced quality of life. However, with the availability of the PICO system in the community, the lives of patients with wounds are significantly improvedi.

A study of 326 community based patients who received PICO for pressure ulcers, leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, trauma wounds and dehisced surgical wounds, showed that prior to using PICO wound dressings were being changed four times a weekii. This fell to two dressing changes a week when using PICO, and to 1.8 times a week, on average, in the four-week follow-up period. Fewer dressing changes resulted in considerable cost savings; the total cost of care using PICO was three times less than the baselineiii.

About PICO

PICO is a novel, canister-free single use system that offers portable, accessible and affordable NPWT, overcoming many of the disadvantages of conventional NPWT devices. PICO's unique dressing technology not only absorbs and locks exudate but is designed to move exudate away from the wound and aids in the evaporation of fluidiv. The PICO pump maintains negative pressure at -80mmHg through the wound bed and dressingiv. The PICO system can be used up to 7 days depending on levels of exudate, and includes two dressings.

About the Prix Galien

Each year, the Prix Galien rewards pharmaceutical research and therapeutic innovations made available to healthcare professionals and patients.  The honour committee includes the most prominent figures in the scientific world, including several Nobel Prize winners.

Recognition at the French Galien Awards means that Smith & Nephew will now be able to enter PICO into the international Galien Awards, held in 2018.

Full press pack, containing clinical and product imagery, videos, and background information is available at http://www.smith-nephew.com/news-and-media/media-releases/news/PICO-wins-prestigious-Galien-Award

References

i Reducing the burden of chronic wounds in the community with single-use NPWT' JCN supplement 2015, Vol 29, No 5.

ii Hurd et al., Use of a portable, single-use negative pressure wound therapy device in home care patients with low to moderately exuding wounds: A case series. Ostomy Wound Management, March 2014.

iii Hampton J, Providing cost-effective treatment of hard-to-heal wounds in the community through use of NPWT. British Journal of Community Nursing, Vol 20, No 6, Community Wound Care, June 2015.

iv Malmsjö M, Huddleston E, Martin R. Biological effects of a disposable, canisterless negative pressure wound therapy system. Eplasty 2014;14:e15.

Beth Lowes
Beth@roadcommunications.co.uk
0044-(0)208-995-5832