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3D bioprinting and the advanced wound care market

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Advanced wound care is a large and fast-growing global market currently dominated by North America and Europe
In the next decade, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa and South America regions are expected to become significant wound care markets
Price sensitive Western MedTechs with wound care franchises might be challenged to penetrate these under-served rapidly growing emerging regional markets
Innovative technologies that currently contribute to advanced wound care include growth factors and cytokines, stem cells, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine approaches, and 3D bioprinting
Each has technical and clinical challenges likely to present obstacles for their future growth
3D bioprinting however appears well positioned to eclipse competing technologies and disrupt the global advanced wound reconstruction market in the next decade

3D bioprinting and the advanced wound care market

3D bioprinting is a relatively new and innovative medical technology. Although in its infancy, it has established a market presence of ~US$1.3bn, and, over the next four years, its market value is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~21% and reach >US$3bn by 2027. An earlier Commentary drew attention to the technology’s likelihood to impact several aspects of healthcare. Here we assess 3D bioprinting’s potential near-term influence on the advanced wound care market compared with competing technologies.

A silent epidemic

Chronic wounds have become a large and fast-growing silent epidemic. They are difficult to heal because of aggravated underlying causes such as diabetes, obesity, and an aging population. Such wounds increase morbidity and mortality and inflict substantial medical, economic, and social burdens on healthcare systems globally. For instance, the mortality rate of neuropathic foot ulcers, the commonest wound associated with diabetes, is comparable to that of cancer (~30%), and cost more to treat. In the US, ~10% of the population (~30m) have diabetes, and $1 out of every $4 in healthcare costs is spent on caring for people with the condition, and the total annual cost of diabetes ~US$327bn. Further, each year, ~2m people living with the condition develop a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) or other difficult to heal wounds. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate the annual cost of treating DFUs to be between ~US$9bn and US$13bn, which is in addition to the cost of treating diabetes and excluding the huge costs associated with treating venous leg ulcers and pressure ulcers each year. The US government has increased its effort to introduce new and advanced products for chronic wounds, with the aim to offer effective and affordable treatment to a large and growing pool of elderly patients. By 2060, the nation’s geriatric population is projected to be >77m, suggesting an increase in the 2% of Americans currently suffering chronic wounds. Similarly in England, where >11m people, (~19% of the population) are ≥65 years. A 2017 study estimated that the annual cost of managing chronic wounds and associated comorbidities for seniors by the country's National Health Service (NHS) was £5.3bn.

Rapidly developing therapies

Without appropriate care chronic wounds may not heal properly, leading to pain, decreased mobility, other long-term complications, and death. Wound healing is a dynamic and complex process of repairing or replacing damaged or lost tissue and its goal is to restore the structure and function of an affected tissue as closely as possible to its pre-injury state. Over the past two decades there have been significant advances in technologies to treat chronic wounds, some of which are reviewed in this Commentary. Today, >3000 products have been developed to treat different types of wounds by targeting various aspects of the healing process. There are several approaches to wound repair, including the use of advanced wound dressings, skin substitutes, growth factors, and regenerative medicine techniques.

However, despite decades of R&D and advances in the management of chronic wounds, they remain an under-served, yet fast growing, therapeutic area. This is partly due to the lack of comprehensive assessment and diagnostic tools and the significant time and medical resources that their management consume. However, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are beginning to be used to help medical professionals and institutions automate wound care assessment and thereby save valuable resources. For example, KroniKare, a start-up based in Singapore, has developed the KroniKare Wound Scanner, a handheld tool that employs multi-spectral scanning techniques that can assess a chronic wound in ~30 seconds, which enables quick and accurate treatment. The scanner has been clinically validated by the Singapore government’s Health Sciences Authority as a Class-B registered diagnostic AI device.

In this Commentary

This Commentary provides a brief history of the wound reconstruction market. North America and Europe represent the largest share of the advanced wound care market, which is currently valued at ~US$11bn, growing at a CAGR of ~5.7%, and projected to reach ~US$16bn by 2028. We draw attention to the fact that the market is changing with a growing presence of the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa and South America regions: all with vast and rapidly growing populations, expanding middle-class segments demanding enhanced wound care and governments committed to increasing their expenditures on wound healing. Traditional US MedTechs, which currently dominate the wound care market, may struggle to increase their franchises in these emerging markets due to a range of factors including regulatory complexities, unique healthcare challenges, price sensitivity, and logistical challenges. The Commentary describes several innovative wound care products and the leading corporations developing and marketing them. These offerings include growth factors and cytokines, stem cells, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine approaches, and 3D bioprinting. For each we briefly describe the main technical and clinical obstacles they need to overcome to increase their impact on the chronic wound care market. The Commentary concludes by summarising the limitations of several advanced wound care offerings and suggests reasons why, in the next decade, 3D bioprinting is likely to eclipse competing technologies and disrupt the global wound reconstruction market.

Brief history

Complex wound reconstruction is a relatively new field that has emerged over the last few decades. Advances in medical devices and clinical techniques have allowed for the successful treatment of wounds that were previously considered untreatable. In the early 1990s, the concept of wound bed preparation was introduced, which emphasized the need to prepare a wound before applying any kind of dressing or treatment. This involved removing dead tissue, and controlling infection, to promote healthy tissue growth. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine emerged as promising fields for complex wound healing. These focused on using biological materials, such as stem cells and growth factors, to stimulate tissue growth and regeneration.

In 1996, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Integra Dermal Regeneration Template, a manufactured collagen matrix with a claim of regenerative dermal tissue designed as a skin replacement, and initially used in patients with extensive burns with insufficient donor tissue for coverage. In 1998, Apligraf became the first commercially available, FDA approved, product containing living cells, to treat venous ulcers that failed to respond to conventional treatments. It is a synthetic skin created from harvested infant foreskins and produced and marketed by Organogenesis, a US corporation based in Massachusetts. In 2000, the product obtained further approval for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. In the years since, other products containing living cells for wound healing have gained regulatory approval and are used to treat a range of complex wounds.

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In addition to advances in technology and treatment options, there has also been a growing recognition of the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to complex wound reconstruction. This involves teams of healthcare professionals, including wound care specialists, plastic surgeons, and rehabilitation professionals, working together to develop comprehensive personal treatment plans for individual patients.

Despite these advances, the clinical assessment and management of chronic wounds remain challenging owing to their long-term treatment regimens and complex wound healing mechanism. Various conventional approaches including cell therapy, gene therapy, growth factor delivery, wound dressings, and skin grafts are being utilized to promote healing in different types of wounds. However, such therapies are not satisfactory for all wound types, which creates a need to develop newer and innovative treatments. In recent years, innovative wound healing technologies have made progress and continue to evolve. These include stem cell therapies, bioengineered skin grafts, and 3D bioprinting, which all focus on skin regeneration with minimal side effects. According to a 2023 report by Tracxn, a MedTech research platform, globally there are ~580 companies producing wound care offerings.

A fast-growing global market

Wound reconstruction is a large and rapidly growing segment of the medical technology industry. According to a 2022 Fortune Business Insights report, the global advanced wound care market is projected to grow from ~US$11bn in 2021 to ~US$16bn in 2028 at a CAGR of ~5.7% in forecast period. Its expansion is driven by several factors, including: (i) an aging global population: ~10% of the world’s ~8bn people are ≥65 years and this age group is expected to increase to ~17% by 2050. Older adults are more prone to chronic wounds due to decreased skin elasticity, poor circulation, and other factors, (ii) increasing worldwide prevalence of chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure ulcers, (iii) advances in wound care technologies, including growth factors, stem cell therapies, biomaterials, and regenerative medicine approaches, (iv) increasing healthcare spending: governments and healthcare systems throughout the world are investing more in advanced wound care, and (v) increased public awareness of the importance of wound healing.

Significant regional markets

Advanced wound reconstruction markets vary in different regions of the world. Currently, North America is the largest, and expected to be valued at ~US$5bn by 2027, followed by Europe, which is currently valued >US$3bn with a projected 4.2% CAGR over the next four years. Here we draw attention to emerging markets of the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America regions.

The Asia-Pacific region has substantial growth potential particularly in India, China, and Southeast Asia. These regions have vast, aging populations, governments increasing healthcare expenditure, high incidence of chronic diseases, and a rising awareness of the importance of wound care among large and rapidly growing middle classes. In China (population >1.4bn), for instance, the wound reconstruction market is expected to grow significantly driven by: (i) an aging population - by 2040, ~402m people, (28% of the population) are expected to be >60 years, (ii) national efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure, (iii) increasing investment in medical research, and (iv) rising incidence of chronic diseases that require wound management. India (population ~1.4bn), is also a substantial potential market with a growing demand for advanced wound care solutions, increasing healthcare expenditure, and a rising number of government initiatives to improve healthcare services. Southeast Asia, which includes Indonesia (population ~280m), Malaysia (population >32m), Thailand (population >70m) and Vietnam(population ~100m), also represent significant growth potential for the wound reconstruction market.

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is expected to have substantial growth potential for wound healing due to increasing medical management expenditure, improving healthcare infrastructure, and a rising number of government initiatives to improve wound care. Although this region is a diverse and complex healthcare market, there are several countries within it with significant growth potential for wound care. For instance, in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates (population ~9.5m) is a wealthy market with a rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure, increasing demand for advanced wound healing solutions, and a high prevalence of diabetes-related wounds. Saudi Arabia too is a substantial potential market, driven by a large and growing population (~36m), increasing healthcare expenditure, and rising awareness of the importance of wound care management. In Africa, South Africa (population >61m) has a large and advanced healthcare system, increasing demand for complex wound care solutions, and a high prevalence of diabetes-related wounds.

South America is expected to experience significant growth in the wound reconstruction market, driven by increasing awareness of its importance, rising demand for advanced wound recovery solutions, and a growing number of government initiatives. Several countries in the region have substantial market growth potential, including: (i) Brazil, the largest economy in the region, with a population of ~217m and high incident rates of chronic wounds, (ii) Argentina (population >46m), which has a large healthcare sector and a growing demand for advanced wound care products and services, and (iii) Colombia, with a growing economy and a large population (>52m), is emerging as a key regional player in wound care solutions and services.

Leveraging opportunities in emerging markets

Many Western MedTechs are ill equipped to leverage the opportunities in emerging regions of the world with underserved, growing advanced wound care markets. North America and Europe account for ~55% of the global medical technology market and provide the largest share of MedTechs’ revenues. It is in these wealthy regions that most company executives have spent most of their professional careers and therefore have had little or no in-country experience of emerging economies. For decades, North American and European healthcare systems rewarded medical activity rather than patient outcomes and this drove high growth rates, significant profit margins, and industry expansion without much risk or in-depth strategic thinking. Such conditions, complemented by substantial periods of low interest rates and cheap money, encouraged the financialization of the medical technology industry: companies used mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to pursue scale and consequently became bigger but not necessarily better. Today, the ten largest medical device corporations account for >40% of the sales in a global market of ~US$490bn. The market has become an oligopoly, which emphasizes size and tends to blunt competition. Although such conditions are changing and having international experience, a global mindset, and R&D knowhow are increasingly valued, there is still a significant reliance on legacy products marketed predominantly in wealthy Western nations. Even now, relatively few company leaders have had in-depth experience of emerging regions of the world, where differences in language, competition, regulations, and culture create barriers to their ability to understand and navigate the nuances of these markets.

Wound healing technologies

The development of new wound healing technologies is an area of active R&D in the medical device industry, which aim to accelerate the healing process and improve outcomes for patients. Here we provide a flavour of these.

(i) Growth factors and cytokines

A promising area of research to stimulate wound healing is the use of growth factors and cytokines. These are naturally occurring proteins in the body that play a key role in the healing process. Researchers are exploring ways to use these proteins in wound care products to promote tissue regeneration and accelerate wound repair.

There are several MedTechs with offerings in this area. UK based Smith & Nephew markets a range of wound healing products, including biologic agents that contain growth factors and cytokines. The company’s REGRANEX Gel, which contains recombinant platelet-derived growth factor s (PDGF), received FDA approval in 1997, and is used to treat diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers. Acelity, a Texas-based privately held company founded in 1976, manufactures and markets several advanced wound care products, including biologic agents that contain growth factors and cytokines. The company’s VAC VeraFlo Therapy with Prontosan, received CE Mark in 2017 and combines negative pressure wound therapy [a method of drawing out fluid and infection from a wound to help it heal] with a solution that contains cytokines and growth factors to help promote wound healing. Nasdaq traded Integra LifeSciences develops and markets wound healing products. The Integra Flowable Wound Matrix contains growth factors and is used to treat chronic wounds. Osiris Therapeutics, founded in 1993 and based in Maryland, USA, specializes in regenerative medicine and has a range of products to promote wound healing, including Grafix, a human placental membrane that contains growth factors and cytokines. NYSE traded MedTech, Stryker markets numerous advanced wound care products, including biologic agents that contain growth factors and cytokines. Its key product in this area is MIST Therapy, which is a painless, non-contact, low-frequency ultrasound treatment delivered through a saline mist containing cytokines and growth factors to promote wound healing.

Challenges
Growth factors and cytokines are proteins that are produced naturally by the body. Replicating their production in a laboratory setting can be challenging and result in high production costs and thereby limit their accessibility and affordability. Also, these molecules are quickly broken down and cleared from wound sites, which limits their effectiveness to promote healing. Developing methods to increase their stability and longevity is crucial to improving their efficacy.

While growth factors and cytokines have shown promise in preclinical studies, clinical trials have not always demonstrated consistent benefits in wound healing, and this raises some concerns about their potential for adverse effects such as allergic reactions or immune system activation. The success of these molecules in promoting wound healing depends on their ability to effectively interact with a complex network of cells in a precise and targeted manner, which can be challenging to achieve.

(ii) Stem Cells

In recent years, stem cell-based therapies for wound healing and skin regeneration have garnered much interest owing to their potential to morph into different types of cells that promote tissue regeneration and accelerate wound healing. Researchers are exploring the use of various types, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) [multipotent stem cells found in bone marrow]; adipose (body fat)-derived stem cells (ASCs), [a subset of MSCs, which can be obtained easily from adipose tissues and possess many of the same regenerative properties as other MSCs], and pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) [cells that can develop into many different types of cells or tissues in the body]. These present the main sources of stem cells that are utilized for wound healing and skin regeneration.

While there are many products on the market, the leading MedTechs using stem cells for wound healing include Acelity, whose flagship offering is the RECELL Autologous Cell Harvesting Device, which uses patients’ skin cells to promote healing in chronic wounds and burn injuries. Organogenesis’s Apligraf, mentioned above, contains stem cells. Integra LifeSciences’s Dermal Regeneration Template, also mentioned above, is a matrix of bovine collagen and glycosaminoglycan molecules that contains autologous stem cells [stem cells removed from a person, stored, and later given back to the same person] to promote tissue regeneration. And Smith & Nephew’s PICO Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System, which uses a proprietary dressing with stem cells to promote healing in chronic wounds.

Challenges
Despite stem cell-based therapies being common and effective for the promotion of wound healing, there are challenges associated with their source, genetic instability, potential immunogenicity, risks of infection and carcinogenesis and high processing costs. Stem cells are a complex and heterogeneous population of cells that are sensitive to their environment, and replicating their production in a laboratory can be technically demanding and costly. They have the potential to differentiate into various cell types and promote tissue regeneration, but if not appropriately controlled, they can form tumours. Developing methods to ensure the safety and efficacy of stem cell-based therapies and minimising the risk of tumour formation are crucial to their future impact on the wound care market.

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(iii) Tissue engineering

Tissue engineering is another approach being explored for wound healing. This involves a combination of cells, engineering, materials, methods, and suitable biochemical and physicochemical factors to restore, maintain, improve, or replace different types of biological tissue. Researchers have developed tissue-engineered skin substitutes that can be used to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration in patients with chronic wounds. Leading MedTechs with advanced products in this area include Acelity, Organogenesis, Integra LifeSciences and Smith and Nephew.

Challenges
There are non-trivial challenges associated with the production and maintenance of functional and viable tissue engineered constructs in a laboratory setting. The technology requires the growth of cells on scaffolds or matrices that mimic the extracellular matrix of the target tissue. The process of creating these involves multiple steps, including cell isolation, seeding, differentiation, and integration with the host tissue. Ensuring the quality and functionality of these constructs is demanding, and replicating such processes in a large-scale production setting is time consuming and costly. Another technical challenge is the need for a vascular network to support the growth and survival of the engineered tissue. The lack of blood vessels can limit the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells within the tissue construct, which can result in cell death and impaired tissue function. Developing methods to vascularize tissue constructs and integrate them with the host vascular system is crucial to the success of tissue engineering in wound reconstruction. Clinical success depends on offerings not being rejected by a patient’s immune system and being able to integrate with a complex network of cells in a precise and targeted manner, which can be difficult to achieve.

(iv) Regenerative medicine approaches

Regenerative medicine approaches such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and extracellular matrix (ECM) are being developed for their potential to promote wound healing. The former is an autologous biological product containing higher amounts of platelets [small cells that circulate within your blood and bind together when they recognize damaged blood vessels]. Compared to circulating blood, PRP contains an increased concentration of growth factors, which is a prerequisite for wound healing. The approach involves isolating platelets from a patient's blood, which, when introduced into a wound has the potential to stimulate and accelerate tissue healing. In recent years, PRP has attracted a lot of research attention.

ECM is an extensive three-dimensional scaffold made from natural or synthetic materials that provides structural integrity and can be used to promote tissue regeneration and accelerate wound healing. Because of the nature of chronic wounds, recovery is reduced by a lack of functional ECM in the dermal matrix, which is responsible for stimulating healing. The restoration of functional ECM in wounds contributes to their reconstruction and closure. Both PRP and ECM technologies show promise in promoting tissue regeneration.

MedTech leaders in this field include Osiris, Terumo, Stryker and Zimmer Biomet. Osiris Therapeutics specializes in regenerative medicine approaches for wound healing, including ECM products. Grafix, the company’s key offering, is a cryopreserved placental membrane product that is designed to promote tissue regeneration in chronic wounds. Terumo, a Japanese corporation founded in 1921, opened its first overseas office in the US in 1971 and subsequently became a global player. The company is now a leader in blood management technologies and offers a range of products specializing in wound healing, including PRP systems. Its main offering, the Terumo BCT COBE Spectra Apheresis System, is used to collect and process blood components, including platelets, for use in wound healing. Stryker’s flagship ECM product is the MatriStem UBM Wound Matrix, which is derived from porcine urinary bladder tissue and is designed to promote tissue regeneration in chronic wounds. Zimmer Biomet is a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare and offers a range of products for wound healing, including PRP systems. Its principal product is the EBI Bone Healing System, which is used to promote healing in fractures and other musculoskeletal injuries.

Challenges
Regenerative medicine approaches for wound healing require an in-depth understanding of the underlying mechanisms of tissue regeneration, which is complex. A precise understanding of multiple signaling pathways, cell types, and extracellular matrix components are crucial, and how these interact is fundamental to the development of effective therapies. For regenerative medicine treatments to be successful they need appropriate delivery of cells, growth factors, and other biological molecules to the site of injury. Achieving this requires a careful consideration of the biological and physical factors at play, which can be challenging.

(v) Three dimensional (3D) bioprinting

In recent years, three dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as a rapid and high throughput automated technology that significantly reduces the limitations of other wound healing and regenerative medicine technologies that depend on manual processes and are hindered by the time it takes for them to reconstruct large chronic wounds. 3D bioprinting is an automated process that allows for the creation of three-dimensional structures using living cells and biomaterials. It involves the layer-by-layer deposition of bio-inks, which contain living cells and other biological components, using a specialized printer. The resulting structures can then be implanted into the body to promote tissue regeneration and wound healing. Advances in the technology have led to the development of more complex tissue constructs, such as skin, bone, and cartilage. In the near to medium term, 3D bioprinting has the potential to eclipse established and evolving wound healing technologies and disrupt the advanced wound care market.

Centres of excellence

There are several scientists, institutions, and start-ups, which have made significant contributions to the field of complex wound reconstruction using bioprinting. Here we mention a few. A pioneer in the area is Anthony Atala, founding Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which is part of the Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina, USA. The Institute is a world-renowned centre of excellence for research in 3D bioprinting and wound healing. Professor Atala, a bioengineer, urologist, and pediatric surgeon, is recognized for his work in the area. One of Atala’s most notable contributions is the development of the first 3D bio printed human bladder, which he created using a combination of patient cells and biomaterials and then successfully implanted the constructs into several patients with bladder disease. Atala’s pioneering work in 3D bioprinting has paved the way for new treatments and therapies for patients suffering from complex wounds and tissue damage.

The Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) located in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA, is a public-private partnership with a specific focus on 3D bioprinting research and has developed innovative techniques to create living tissues and organs. ARMI collaborates with academic institutions, government agencies, and industry partners to accelerate the translation of 3D bioprinting research into clinical applications. Another leading institution is the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS), which is a global organisation that aims to promote research, education, and clinical translation in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. It has >50 chapters worldwide and organises annual conferences to bring together experts in the field. TERMIS plays a significant role in advancing 3D bioprinting research by providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

One example of a start-up specializing in advanced wound care that is using 3D bioprinting is Pandorum Technologies, founded in 2011 and based in Bengaluru, India. Its flagship offering CorneaGen, is a 3D-bioprinted cornea that can be used to replace damaged or diseased corneas in patients. The cornea is made up of a bio ink composed of corneal cells and hydrogels that mimic the natural extracellular matrix of the cornea. The company has also developed a bio printed skin that can be used for wound healing research and drug development. It is composed of layers of living cells that mimic the structure and function of human skin. Pandorum has R&D initiatives in India and in the US located in the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) at Charleston and MBC BioLabs, in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA.

Challenges
The success of 3D bioprinting depends on its ability to create structures that can support the growth and differentiation of cells into functional tissue. Identifying and developing biomaterials that can mimic the extracellular matrix of the target tissue, while providing the necessary mechanical and biological cues to support cell growth is technically demanding. The process of 3D bioprinting involves the deposition of multiple layers of cells and biomaterials to create a three-dimensional structure. Achieving the desired geometry and spatial organisation of these layers can be challenging and requires precise control over the printing process. A challenge for the technology regarding wound healing is the time it takes to obtain autologous cells to fabricate skin constructs for patients with extensive burn wounds, which require rapid treatment.

Can 3D bioprinting disrupt the advanced wound care market?

Although it is difficult to predict the future of any technology with certainty, it seems reasonable to suggest that 3D bioprinting could become the dominant technology in the field of advanced wound reconstruction in the next decade. Bioprinting has several advantages over other technologies, briefly described in this Commentary, and currently used in wound reconstruction. Traditional methods such as skin grafting and tissue engineering using scaffolds, have limitations in terms of their ability to produce complex tissue structures and patient-specific treatments. 3D bioprinting, on the other hand, allows for precise control over the placement of cells and biomaterials, and can produce highly complex and customized tissue constructs. The technology is rapidly advancing, and new developments are being made at an unprecedented rate. Researchers are continuously developing new biomaterials, improving the resolution and speed of bioprinters, and exploring new applications. 3D bioprinting appears to have the potential to meet the large and growing demand for advanced wound reconstruction by allowing for the creation of customized tissue constructs tailored to the specific needs of individual patients. Further, it can reduce the need for multiple surgeries and treatments, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Takeaways

Over the next decade, advanced wound care markets are expected to grow and change due to the increasing influence of the purchasing power in emerging regions of the world and advances in technology. While wealthy North America and Europe, with ~14% of the global population, will continue to be commercially significant for the medical device industry, the Asia-Pacific, MEA, and South America regions, where >80% of the world’s population live, are likely to become important wound care markets because of the growing incident rates of chronic conditions and related wounds requiring treatment, expanding middle classes demanding improved care and governments’ commitment to enhancing their healthcare systems.

While it is unlikely that non-bioprinting technologies will disappear from the field of complex wound reconstruction, there are several reasons, which we have briefly described, why they are likely to have a reduced influence on the market as it evolves over the next decade. By contrast, the advantages offered by 3D bioprinting, combined with the rapid pace of its R&D, the growing demand for personalized affordable treatments in emerging economies, and the universal need to reduce healthcare costs, suggest that the technology is well positioned to disrupt the advanced wound care market in the next decade.

Will traditional MedTechs with wound care franchises be agile enough to benefit from these new market and technology opportunities?

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3D bioprinting and the advanced wound care market

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