Biopharmaceutical firm MediWound has received a $6.5-million contract to extend the development of a non-surgical burn injury solution for the US Army.
The project supports the advancement of NexoBrid, a topically applied formula incorporating a concentrate of enzymes that break down protein.
The drug serves as a field-care treatment to mitigate severe burns warfighters suffer on the battlefield. The damage often causes eschar, or dead tissue forming over healthy skin, leading to shedding or extreme immune conditions such as sepsis.
Removing eschar requires surgical intervention such as excision. Although effective, this increases the chances of trauma and blood loss.
Field-Care Burn Solution
The Israel-based company started the maturation of NexoBrid for US Army field-care use in 2022.
The service’s Medical Research and Development Command awarded the effort’s initial $1.7-million Defense Health Agency contract through the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) the same year.
“We are honored to further our collaboration with the US Department of Defense,” MediWound CEO Ofer Gonen stated.
“Our shared vision of enhancing treatment outcomes for traumatic burns on the battlefield will ensure NexoBrid’s availability for military use.”
“This additional funding reinforces NexoBrid’s standing as the non-surgical, temperature stable, user-friendly, and highly effective solution for eschar removal, emphasizing its game-changing potential in early severe burn treatment protocols.”
NexoBrid is expected to be a reliable and convenient treatment for army personnel at risk of burn-related inflictions.
“The military services require simple and effective non-surgical solutions to treat severe burn patients as close to point of injury as possible,” MTEC Research Director Lauren Palestrini explained during last year’s contract awarding.
“This work could result in a transformational change to the current standard of care of burn injuries.”
