Wound-Care Market to Reach $1.9 Billion in 2010

The European wound-care market is projected to gradually grow from traditional to advanced wound dressings, and will be strengthened by an aging baby boomer generation pursuing an active lifestyle, triggering an increase in chronic wounds. This trend is expected to increase the annual growth rate of wound-care products to 8.4% from 2003-2010, reaching a total of U.S.$1.9 billion in 2010, according to a new study from Frost & Sullivan (Palo Alto, CA, USA), an international consulting firm.

With their ability to provide a moist, conducive environment for improved healing, compared to traditional dressings, novel moist-dressing technologies are expected to make strong gains. Heightened awareness of infection issues is expected to prompt demand for antimicrobial dressings, with silver-based dressings becoming increasingly popular. Active wound dressings, including tissue-engineered products, biomaterials, and skin substitutes are also expected to develop strongly over the long term.

Despite these innovations, the high costs of new technologies are posing key challenges to market development. Encouraging adoption of these new technologies will require manufacturers to prove both the clinical and cost-efficiency of advanced wound management, using strategies such as clinical trials and shared research. Meanwhile, competition is intensifying. An emphasis on differentiation is seen as critical to market success.

"Greater consolidation through acquisitions and mergers, alliances and partnerships is being seen as a route to gain control of the technologies of the future,” noted Tanya Pullen, program manager, medical devices, Frost & Sullivan. "Efforts are also on to offer a one-stop shop facility with some manufacturers promoting a complete portfolio of advanced wound-care products all under one brand.”



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