Convatec unveils significant advanced wound care clinical study results

New research demonstrates superiority of AQUACEL^® Ag+ Extra™ dressing in the management of venous leg ulcers

[1 May 2024, London] Convatec, a leading global medical products and technologies company, is proud to announce clinical study results from a recent multinational randomised controlled trial (RCT) showcasing remarkable advancements in the healing of venous leg ulcers with AQUACEL^® Ag+ Extra™ compared to standard of care dressing.

The multicentre RCT was conducted across 20 sites in Germany, United Kingdom and Colombia and investigated the effectiveness of AQUACEL^® Ag+ Extra™ compared to standard of care dressing in the management of patients with venous leg ulcers. The study found that venous leg ulcers managed with AQUACEL^® Ag+ Extra™ were 31% more likely to heal completely at 12 weeks and 31% more likely to have a 40% reduction in wound area at 4 weeks, compared to the standard of care dressing. At 12 weeks, 74.8% of venous leg ulcers managed with AQUACEL^® Ag+ Extra™ had completely healed, compared to 55.6% of those managed with the standard of care dressing.

Venous ulcers currently affect a global population of over 143 million patients and pose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide, often requiring prolonged treatment and causing substantial morbidity.^1,2 The compelling findings from this RCT suggest that AQUACEL^® Ag+ Extra™ may provide an effective means of managing these hard-to-heal wounds. 

AQUACEL^® Ag+ Extra™ dressings combine Hydrofiber^® Technology and MORE THAN SILVER™ Technology, a unique ionic silver-containing formulation. Hydrofiber^® technology works together with MORE THAN SILVER™ technology to absorb and remove wound exudate and disrupt and destroy biofilm components, helping to manage wound moisture and support healing.³

Dr Divakar Ramakrishnan, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Research & Development at Convatec, said: “Chronic wound care management is a significant unmet patient need globally. These results represent our commitment to pioneering innovation and evidence-based solutions. We are excited and grateful to all our colleagues and external partners for driving this critical capability and improving outcomes for patients with venous leg ulcers.”

Dr Beate Hanson, Chief Medical Officer at Convatec, said: “We are pleased to announce these landmark study results, adding to the substantial existing evidence that AQUACEL^® Ag+ Extra™ is a unique and powerful antimicrobial and antibiofilm wound dressing. This study clearly demonstrates superiority of AQUACEL^® Ag+ Extra™ in the healing of venous leg ulcers when compared to standard of care. These new results highlight the clinical value of this best-in-class technology which may ultimately provide relief to these patients and improve their quality of life as part of our forever caring promise.

Convatec anticipates a peer review publication of the published evidence later this year.

About Convatec:

Pioneering trusted medical solutions to improve the lives we touch: Convatec is a global medical products and technologies company, focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, with leading positions in advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence care and infusion care. With around 10,000 colleagues, we provide our products and services in almost 100 countries, united by a promise to be forever caring. Our solutions provide a range of benefits, from infection prevention and protection of at-risk skin, to improved patient outcomes and reduced care costs. Convatec’s revenues in 2023 were over $2 billion. The company is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index (LSE:CTEC). To learn more about Convatec, please visit  http://www.convatecgroup.com 

1. Kolluri R, Lugli M, Villalba L, et al. An estimate of the economic burden of venous leg ulcers associated with deep venous disease. Vasc Med. 2022;27(1):63-72.

2. Raffetto JD, Ligi D, Maniscalco R, Khalil RA, Mannello F. Why venous leg ulcers have difficulty healing: overview on pathophysiology, clinical consequences, and treatment. J Clin Med. 2020;10(1):29.

3. Parsons D, Meredith K, Rowlands VJ, Short D, Metcalf DG, Bowler PG. Enhanced performance and mode of action of a novel antibiofilm Hydrofiber^® wound dressing. Biomed Res Int. 2016:7616471.