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DermaSciences, Princeton, NJ, and its partner, Comvita New Zealand, Ltd, have changed the brand name of their honey-based product line to MEDIHONEY. Both companies previously intended to market the products under the API-MED brand. The MEDIHONEY brand was acquired by Comvita through its recent purchase of Medihoney-Pty Ltd, a former subsidiary of the Australian-based Capilano group. MEDIHONEY is a line of active Leptospermum honey-based wound and burn dressings used in several countries. The first of these dressings, a calcium alginate dressing with active manuka (Leptospermum) honey, was cleared for use in the management of wounds and burns by the Food and Drug Administration in July 2007.

 

[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.dermasciences.com

  
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National Stem Cell Holding, Inc, Mountainside, NJ, has filed a provisional patent application for a newly discovered group ofcellular-derived biomaterials that appear to promote tissue repair in a variety of wound care applications. The new biomaterials are derived from the company's proprietary stem cell and progenitor cell lines. The company believes that further research and development will clarify current indications that the biomaterials may be useful for a variety of acute and chronic wounds, including, but not limited to, burns and surgery- and diabetes-related wounds.

 

[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.nationalstemcell.com

 

Hill-Rom, Batesville, IN, and Tempur-Pedic, Lexington, KY, are planning to debut a new line of innovative bed surfaces for acute care facilities. The jointly branded line of premium nonpowered mattresses will be introduced to the Hill-Rom acute care customer base, and Hill-Rom would be named as the exclusive third-party distributor in North America of Tempur-Pedic medical mattresses to this acute care arena. The cobranded line would feature sleeping surfaces made specifically for Hill-Rom products such as VersaCare, TotalCare, and Affinity 4 beds, as well as CareAssist stretchers and mattress replacement systems.

 

[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.hill-rom.com/usa/index.asp; http://www.tempurpedic.com

  
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The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) will award 3 certification grants in 2008 to qualified candidates to cover fees, up to $450, to certify or recertify through the current WOCNCB process. To be eligible for a certification grant, applicants in the process of becoming (re)certified must have applied for (re)certification, scheduled an examination date for (re)certification, been recertified or submitted an application via the Professional Growth Program, earned (re)credentialing within the last calendar year, or completed an accredited wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) education program within the last calendar year. Applicants must also be currently a WOC nurse or a nurse performing foot and nail care. Applicants cannot have applied for and received a certification grant within the last 5 years. Applications and supporting materials must be submitted to the WOCNCB office and postmarked by January 31, 2008.

 

[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.wocncb.org/whatsnew/#2

 

DM Systems, Evanston, IL, manufacturers of Heelift Suspension Boot, is continuing its affiliation with Medscript Communications, Inc, publisher of the 2007 Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment Book. The book provides readers with information on patients who are at risk for developing pressure ulcers, how pressure ulcers can be prevented, and how the beginning stages of pressure ulcers can be treated effectively. DM Systems sponsors the book because it supports the prevention of pressure ulcers through proper information and the appropriate use of pressure-relief devices like the Heelift Suspension Boot, according to the company.

 

[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.dmsystems.com

  
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ULURU, Inc, Addison, TX, has entered a codevelopment agreement with Immuneregen BioSciences, Scottsdale, AZ, a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc, to evaluate the wound healing potential of a combination of its hydrogel nanoparticle wound dressing and Immuneregen's Homspera therapeutic. Homspera is derived from Substance P, a naturally occurring peptide immunomodulator and homeostatic compound that stimulates the human immune system. Both in vivo animal tests and third-party data indicate the potential for this compound to accelerate wound healing through the upregulation of growth factors involved in the wound healing process.

 

[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.immuneregen.com; http://www.uluruinc.com

 

Macrochem Corporation, Wellesley Hills, MA, has signed an option to acquire exclusive worldwide license rights for drug uses of pexiganan, a novel, small peptide anti-infective for topical treatment of patients with mild diabetic foot infection, from Genaera Corp, Plymouth Meeting, PA. The company believes that pexiganan could fill an important medical need for a topical anti-infective treatment for approximately 3.5 million diabetic foot infections annually.

 

[black up pointing small triangle] Information:http://www.macrochem.com