ConvaTec Launches Hydrofiber(R) Technology Website

ICKENHAM, England - Transforming Wound Care With the Power Behind the Company’s Advanced Dressings

ConvaTec, a world-leading provider of innovative medical technologies for community and hospital care, today announced the launch of a new website, www.Hydrofiber.co.uk, demonstrating how the company’s proprietary Hydrofiber(R) Technology is transforming wound care.

Designed for clinicians managing chronic and acute wounds, the website illustrates the unique features and benefits of Hydrofiber(R) Technology with extensive video, data and commentary from research scientists within ConvaTec Wound Therapeutics. This transformational technology, unique to ConvaTec, powers the performance of advanced wound care products, including AQUACEL(R), AQUACEL(R) Ag and Versiva(R) XC(TM) dressings, each developed for different wound management needs.

“Hydrofiber(R) Technology is the intelligent choice to meet the diverse wound care needs of clinicians and their individual patients,” said Michael Steadman, President of ConvaTec Wound Therapeutics. “This exciting, new online resource shows how our high performance dressings not only help clinicians achieve better outcomes and improve the patient experience, but also contribute to cost control.”

Wound care exerts significant cost burden on the UK health system, in excess of GBP2-3 billion per year, much of which is related to wound complications or delayed healing.(1) A recent wound care audit found a high number of patients had their wounds six months or longer, and suggested that initiatives focused on improving diagnosis and treatment would likely significantly impact costs.(2)

ConvaTec dressings with Hydrofiber(R) Technology gel on contact with fluid, providing clinicians and patients with substantial wound care benefits. This unique gelling action enables the dressings to lock in exudate and its harmful components, (3) contour closely to the wound bed, (4) and respond to changing wound conditions.(4,5) With the inclusion of ionic silver, AQUACEL(R) Ag dressing also provides on demand antimicrobial activity, responding to increased bacteria with increased silver ion availability.(6,7)*

Advanced Wound Dressings with Hydrofiber(R) Technology from ConvaTec

AQUACEL(R) and AQUACEL(R) Ag dressings are soft, absorbent non-woven wound dressings based on Hydrofiber(R) Technology. Indicated for a wide range of moderate-to-highly exuding chronic and acute wounds, AQUACEL(R) and AQUACEL(R) Ag dressings come in a variety of shapes, sizes and formats. AQUACEL(R) Ag dressing also provides the broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties of ionic silver, which kills a broad range of pathogens in the dressings, including MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).(6)**

* The amount of silver released is controlled by the maximum concentration of silver that can enter solution.

**as demonstrated in vitro

Versiva(R) XC(TM) dressing provides all the benefits of Hydrofiber(R) Technology plus a waterproof backing+ that acts as a barrier against bacteria and viral pathogens, including HIV and Hepatitis.++ The unique properties of Versiva(R) XC(TM) dressing help progress wounds toward healing.(8,9) Indicated for use with moderately-to-highly exuding chronic and acute wounds, Versiva(R) XC(TM) dressing is also the only dressing designed specifically to cover AQUACEL(R) and AQUACEL(R) Ag dressings.

ConvaTec dressings containing Hydrofiber(R) Technology have been studied in numerous randomized clinical trials across a variety of chronic and acute wounds, including pressure ulcers, leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, partial thickness (second degree) burns and surgical incisions.

About ConvaTec

ConvaTec is a leading developer and marketer of innovative medical technologies that have helped improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. With four key business divisions - Ostomy Care, Wound Therapeutics, Continence and Critical Care and Infusion Devices - ConvaTec products support health care professionals from the hospital to the community health setting. From its headquarters in Skillman, New Jersey, the company oversees more than 8,000 employees in over 90 countries serving consumers and their health care professionals on six continents. For more information, please visit www.convatec.com.

+ use waterproof tape to secure the edges of non-adhesive dressing or dressings that have been cut across the central area

++ provided the dressing remains intact and without leakage

References available on request.

Hydrofiber, AQUACEL and Versiva are registered trademarks of ConvaTec Inc.

XC is a trademark of ConvaTec Inc.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

(c) 2009 ConvaTec Inc.

AP-007768-GB

Source: ConvaTec

Contacts: Punnie Donohue, ConvaTec, Phone: +1-908-904-2151, Punnie.Donohue at convatec.com; Holly Brafman, Weber Shandwick, Phone: +44(0)20-7067-0451, hbrafman at webershandwick.com