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Biological Growth Factors in Wound Care Drive Big Revenue Growth, Too

PatrickDriscoll
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Extensive research has demonstrated that wound fluid is rich in growth factors. Growth factors are naturally occurring proteins found primarily in platelets and macrophages. They are needed for normal wound healing to promote growth and migration of fibroblasts, endothelial cells and keratinocytes.

Extensive research has demonstrated that wound fluid is rich in growth factors. Growth factors are naturally occurring proteins found primarily in platelets and macrophages. They are needed for normal wound healing to promote growth and migration of fibroblasts, endothelial cells and keratinocytes. The functions of growth factors include; attraction of cells to the wound site (chemotaxis), stimulation of cell division/ proliferation (mitogenic competence/progressive), differentiation of cells into specific phenotypes (transformation), and stimulation of cells to perform functions or secrete other growth factors. Growth factors bind to receptors on the cell surface where they activate cellular proliferation and/or differentiation. There are a number of growth factors which are involved in wound healing at different points in time. Many are quite versatile and capable of stimulating cellular division in different cell types; others are specific to a particular cell type.

Below is a list of the growth factors involved in wound healing:

  • Epidermal growth factor
  • Transforming growth factor-?
  • Hepatocyte growth factor
  • Vascular endothelial growth factor
  • Platelet derived growth factor
  • Fibroblast growth factor 1 and 2
  • Keratinocyte growth factor

(The origins, effects and companies pursuing development of these growth factors is described in link.)

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Since the market for growth factors in wound management is very new, there are as yet only a few players, but with compound growth in this market pushing well over 20% annually, the lucrative market will stimulate a burst of new entrants over the next few years. Currently, Smith & Nephew holds a dominant position due to its acquisition of Healthpoint Biotherapeutics (pre-acquisition market shares shown separately, below).

Additional companies include Citagenix, Cytomedix, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Macrocure and others.

Source: MedMarket Diligence, LLC; Report #S249.

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By PatrickDriscoll
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I serve the interests of medical technology company decision-makers, venture-capitalists, and others with interests in medtech producing worldwide analyses of medical technology markets for my audience of mostly medical technology companies (but also rapidly growing audience of biotech, VC, and other healthcare decision-makers). I have a small staff and go to my industry insiders (or find new ones as needed) to produce detailed, reality-grounded analyses of current and potential markets and opportunities. I am principally interested in those core clinical applications served by medical devices, which are expanding to include biomaterials, drug-device hybrids and other non-device technologies either competing head-on with devices or being integrated with devices in product development. The effort and pain of making every analysis global in scope is rewarded by my audience's loyalty, since in the vast majority of cases they too have global scope in their businesses. Specialties: Business analysis through syndicated reports, and select custom engagements, on medical technology applications and markets in general/abdominal/thoracic surgery, interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, patient monitoring/management, wound management, cell therapy, tissue engineering, gene therapy, nanotechnology, and others.
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