New dressing brings hope for hard-to-heal wounds
A wound dressing developed at Barts Health has been approved for use across Europe, offering new hope for people with hard-to-heal and infected wounds.
The dressing, called ConvaNioX™, is the first of its kind to release nitric oxide – a natural molecule that helps the body fight infection and heal damaged tissue.
It was invented and developed by a team led by Professor Art Tucker in the Microvascular Unit, within the Clinical Physics department at Barts, and builds on over 15 years of research carried out in partnership with Queen Mary University of London.
The technology was acquired by biotech startup 30 Technology Ltd, further developed, and licensed to global healthcare company Convatec. It will be available later this year in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland. US approval is expected in 2026.
In a clinical study led by Barts Health, 60% more diabetic foot ulcers healed within 12 weeks using ConvaNioX™ compared to standard care.
Professor Tucker said: “This is a major step forward for patients with long-term wounds. We’re proud to see research from Barts and Queen Mary making a real difference in care.”
Diabetic foot ulcers affect tens of millions of people worldwide. They can be painful, slow to heal, and often lead to amputation. In England, they cost the NHS nearly £1 in every £100 – more than is spent on breast, lung or prostate cancer.
ConvaNioX™ is the first in a pipeline of nitric oxide-based treatments. Others in development by 30 Technology include RESP303, an inhaled therapy now in early trials for serious lung infections, such as respiratory tuberculosis.
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