Success as Tissue heals the wounds

Results of the ongoing study showed its dCELL Dermis – human skin stripped of cells and DNA – helped reduce or eradicate chronic ulcers in a 20-patient trial.

The study in Manchester completely healed nine patients, and after six weeks all ulcers were smaller by 50 per cent on average.

The York-based company hailed the progress of its “world-beating” technology, and said it is committed to becoming a “global leader in regenerative medicine”.

Tissue yesterday posted deeper operating losses of £2.1m in the six months to the end of July after ploughing more money into its expansion, but has £26.1m of cash after a fundraising last November.

Tissue is developing a range of dCELL products for knee, skin, heart and vein surgery.

“We’ve got interesting things happening in a number of areas,” said chief executive Antony Odell. “We raised the money six months ago and it takes time to deploy cash but what we’re seeing is four areas – orthopaedics, advanced wound care, cardiac and vascular – where things are starting to happen on all fronts.”

Lead investigator on the study, Dr Ardeshir Bayat, said: “Chronic wounds of the lower leg are a clinical challenge and their ongoing treatment costs the NHS in excess of £400m per annum. A novel solution that can both reduce these costs and simultaneously offer a more effective treatment strategy has been long overdue.”