Preventing Chronic wound infections with a novel, antibiotic Wound Irrigation Solution; relieving patients from pain, risk of amputations and ensuring large cost savings for all Healthcare Systems: WoundRinse

Programme(s): H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs : H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges: H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies

Topic: EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 - SME instrument

Call for proposal: H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

Funding Scheme: SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

Grant agreement ID: 816119

Project description: A novel antimicrobial solution for chronic wounds
Chronic wounds do not undergo the normal healing process in an orderly and timely manner. This could be due to various reasons and increases the susceptibility to infections and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. The EU-funded WoundRinse project has developed a novel wound irrigation solution that prevents bacterial, viral and fungal growth. The solution contains two active chemical agents, is topically administered and overcomes the need for antibiotics application. Moreover, it prevents biofilm formation and aids the wound healing process. Importantly, it does not induce resistance and can be applied to wounds with evidence of antibiotics resistance.

Objective: Today, 40 million people globally live with chronic wounds. In addition to elevated pain, suffering and reduced quality of life for these patients, the direct cost for the national health systems of treating chronic wounds amounts to €47,8 Bn in UK and USA alone. Totally this corresponds to around €180 Bn per year globally. Frost & Sullivan (2017) estimates the total wound care product market to be €10 Bn. In total, biofilm infections represent 80% of all human infections and facilitate the development of antimicrobial resistance. All wounds are susceptible to microbial colonization and subsequent development of biofilm infections.  SoftOx’ innovative Wound Irrigation Solution (WIS) is based on a combination of two highly active chemical agents with antimicrobial properties. The solution effectively stops microbial colonization and prevent biofilm formations in wounds, and thus enables the immune defense to regain control of the wound healing process. The proposed approach is based on successfully stabilizing hypochlorous acid with our patented production process and mixing device. Current SoA is not as effective in preventing biofilm infections without having adverse effects on the host. Our aim is to develop a clinically proven wound Irrigation Solution with antimicrobial effect and wound tolerability superior to all SoA products in the market