Wound Care Market for Skin Ulcers to Pass $5 Billion by 2009

NEW YORK -- The world market for products to treat skin ulcers will grow at nearly 10 percent per year to surpass $5 billion by 2009, according to a new report released today from Kalorama Information.  The increasing elderly population, the availability of new therapeutic techniques, and the recent cost-driven focus on wound care management and prevention are driving the growth.

The new study, Wound Care Markets, Volume I: Skin Ulcers, found that certain segments of the market to treat decubitus, neuropathic, arterial and venous ulcers are mature, such as anti-infectives, most skin ulcer management products, and pressure relief devices.  However, other segments, such as biological dressings, are still in the infant stages and wide open for development and tremendous growth.

 "The opportunities in skin ulcer treatment are very exciting, but the competition is fierce," notes Mary Anne Crandall, the author of the report. "Manufacturers must keep abreast of emerging products, the latest reimbursement changes, and constantly shifting physician usage patterns."

The study examines six broad categories of products-anti-infectives, skin ulcer management products, moist dressings, biological dressings, pressure relief devices, and other miscellaneous treatments-and more than 14 subcategories, including compression dressings and bandages, wound cleaners, debridement products, alginates, films, foams, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, artificial skin products, collagen products, and growth factors.

In addition to a thorough analysis of market size and growth rates through 2009 for each segment and subsegment, the study details competitive market share in each segment and provides a thorough understanding of the clinical and reimbursement environment in which these wound care manufacturers operate.

Source: Kalorama Information