Wood-based wound dressing receives regulatory approval and CE mark

Renewable solutions provider UPM has launched an advanced wound care product for the European market. FibDex is a wound dressing created from wood-based nanofibrillar cellulose, and has received regulatory approval and a CE mark.

Nanofibrillar cellulose, which has been shown to be biocompatible with human cells and tissue, forms the core of the dressing. UPM's nanotechnology, combined with over a decade of research into nanofibrillar cellulose and a highly professional R&D, has resulted in the development of the product.  

In clinical trials FibDex was shown to provide a favourable environment for healing to occur. It is a one-time only application dressing that peels away from the treatment site once healing has occurred. This aims to make the process less painful for patients and more efficient from the perspective of the hospital. In patient review scores FibDex was reported to be both comfortable throughout treatment and provide improved scar quality. 

FibDex has been developed in collaboration with researchers from the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Pharmacy, as well as with surgeons from the Helsinki Burn Centre, Department of Plastic Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital. Prior to receiving the CE mark, FibDex has undergone preclinical safety and efficacy tests followed by clinical trials that have centred on the treatment of skin graft donor sites. 

Dr Jane Spencer-Fry, director, UPM Biomedicals, said FibDex is manufactured from renewable and responsibly sourced Finnish birch wood.

She said: "We are thrilled to have been awarded the CE mark and to be able to bring FibDex to the market. We see it as the next natural step on our journey in the Biomedicals business.    

"After commercialising GrowDex hydrogel for cell culture in the life science field, we've seen that wood-based materials can offer our customers, researchers and patients many benefits that have been warmly welcomed. UPM continues to advance the research and development of products for the biomedical market and moreover, to maximise the use of renewable and sustainable wood-based raw materials.”