WOUND HEALING FILMS MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2023 - 2030)

Global wound healing films market size is expected to reach US$ 1,929.2 Mn  by 2030, from US$ 896.9 Mn  in 2023 exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% during the forecast period. Wound healing films are thin dressings that provide a moist environment over a wound to promote healing. They protect the wound from infection, absorb exudate, and prevent trauma or friction to the wound site. The advantages of wound healing films include their ability to allow gaseous exchange, provide thermal insulation, and offer a barrier to microorganisms. The key drivers of the market include rising prevalence of chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers, increasing geriatric population, and technological advancements in wound dressings.

Global wound healing films market is segmented into product type, application, end user, and region. By type, the market is segmented into hydrocolloid dressing, hydrogel dressing, alginate dressing, collagen dressing, foam dressing, and others. The hydrocolloid dressings segment accounts for the largest market share due to their ability to absorb high volumes of exudate and provide an optimal moist environment for wound healing.

Global Wound Healing Films Market Regional Insights:

• North America is expected to be the largest market for global wound healing films market during the forecast period, accounting for over 40.0% of the market share in 2023. The growth of the market in North America is due to the rising geriatric population, high prevalence of chronic wounds, and presence of major players in the region.
• Europe market is expected to be the second-largest market for global wound healing films market, accounting for over 30.0% of the market share in 2023. The growth of the market in Europe is due to the increasing incidence of chronic wounds, favorable government initiatives, and investments in advanced wound care products.
• Asia Pacific market is expected to be the fastest-growing market for global wound healing films market, with a CAGR of 13.0% during the forecast period. The growth of the market in Asia Pacific is due to the rapidly aging population, rising healthcare expenditure, and increasing awareness about advanced wound care products.

Figure 1. Global Wound Healing Films Market Share (%), By Region, 2023

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Analyst View of the Global Wound Healing Films Market:

Global wound healing films market demonstrates promising growth potential over the forecast period. Population aging and increasing incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes are expected to drive demand for wound healing films. Moreover, rising medical expenditures in developing countries also support market expansion. The growing adoption of wound healing films among healthcare providers and patients due to improved healing and reduced risk of infection offers opportunities for wound dressing manufacturers.

However, high costs associated with advanced wound care products remain a restraint. Lack of awareness regarding available treatment options in developing regions can impede the market growth.

Global Wound Healing Films Market Drivers:

• Rising prevalence of wounds: Rising prevalence of chronic wounds is a major factor driving the wound healing films market. Chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure ulcers are on the rise globally due to the aging population and increasing prevalence of diabetes. This is creating high demand for advanced wound care products such as wound healing films that can provide optimal moist environment and accelerate healing. For instance, in December 2021, according to the Frontiers Media S.A., 77 Mn people in India were suffering from diabetes, out of which 25% were expected to develop diabetic foot ulcers in the year 2021. Furthermore, in October 2022, according to the same source., 12.16% of the people in Pakistan were suffering from diabetic foot ulcer in the year 2021.
• Technological advancements: Technological advancements and new product developments are also boosting the growth of the wound healing films market. Manufacturers are innovating bioactive wound healing films infused with antimicrobials, stem cells, and growth factors, and others. that provide active healing environment. For instance, in July 2021, Bactiguard AB, a medical technology company, and Schulke & Mayr GmbH, a provider of infection prevention solutions, signed an agreement for wound care, in Germany. This agreement will complement Schulke & Mayr GmbH’s comprehensive product range of antiseptic and wound care products with Bactiguard AB’s hypochlorous acid-based portfolio. Hypochlorous acid is an antimicrobial substance that reduces the risk of infection and promotes wound healing.
• Favorable reimbursement: Favorable reimbursement policies especially in developed regions like North America and Europe provide impetus to the wound healing films market. Insurance coverage for advanced wound care dressings including films allows patients to avail these products, thereby driving the market growth.
• Rising adoption of wound healing films in home healthcare: The rising adoption of wound healing films in home healthcare settings owing to their advantages such as ease of use and reduced frequency of dressing changes also augments the market growth. Healthcare providers are emphasizing on shifting wound treatment from hospitals to homecare settings.

Global Wound Healing Films Market Opportunities:

• Development of novel dressings: The development of novel dressings can unlock significant growth opportunities in the global wound healing films market. Advanced wound care sees continuous innovation to address the growing worldwide prevalence of chronic and hard-to-heal wounds. Novel dressings that can more effectively manage wound exudate, maintain a moist environment, protect against infections, thereby promote faster healing, and offer pain relief have high market potential. For instance, on April 27, 2023, 3M, a technology and science company, Health Care's innovative 3M Veraflo Therapy, with both 3M Veraflo Cleanse Choice Complete Dressing and 3M V.A.C. Veraflo Cleanse Choice Dressing, received the first-ever Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for hydromechanical removal of infectious materials, non-viable tissue and wound debris which reduces the number of surgical debridement’s required.
• Increasing healthcare expenditure: Emerging economies in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa with large patient pool and increasing healthcare expenditure offer lucrative growth opportunities for global players. Rising disposable incomes in these regions will drive adoption of premium wound healing films.
• Growing use of combination dressings: Growing use of combination dressings that provide multiple benefits drives innovation opportunities for manufacturers. Combination films such as silicone-based soft silicone dressings, antimicrobial film overlays on foam dressings present avenues for product development and differentiation.
• Increasing research on active wound healing films: Increasing research on active wound healing films containing drugs, biologics and stem cells also opens up prospects for new product launches and partnerships between companies and research institutes, thus accelerating the market growth.

Global Wound Healing Films Market Trends:

• Growing popularity of film-based nanotechnology products: The growing popularity of film-based nanotechnology products is having a significant influence on the global wound healing films market. Nanotechnology involves manipulating materials at an atomic or molecular scale to create structures and systems with fundamentally new properties and functions.
• Moist wound healing: Moist wound healing continues to be the standard of care, thereby driving up utilization of occlusive and semi-occlusive wound healing films that can maintain optimal moisture balance. High moisture vapor transmission rate films are being adopted more, due to better fluid handling capacity. For instance, on June 13, 2023, JeNaCell, an Evonik company, a specialty chemical company, launched the wound dressing epicite balance onto the German market. Epicite balance offers new treatment options for chronic wounds. The isotonic saline solution creates a moist wound environment, while the biosynthetic cellulose matrix can absorb wound exudate.
• Silicone based soft silicone dressings: Silicone based soft silicone dressings are emerging as the preferred choice across acute and chronic wounds owing to advantages such as pain-free application and removals, minimal wound disruption, transparency and durability. For instance, on October 17, 2023, DuPont, a chemicals company, announced the introduction of its new DuPont Liveo MG 7-9960 Soft Skin Adhesive. The higher-adhesion, low-cyclics silicone soft skin adhesive (SSA) is designed for advanced wound care dressings and adhering medical devices to the skin for long wear time and gentle removal.
• Patients and healthcare provider’s preferences: Patients and healthcare providers prefer wound healing films that require less frequent dressing changes to reduce disruptions to the healing wound bed. Extended wear films with 7-14 day wear time are being launched to address this need.

Global Wound Healing Films Market Restraints:

• High cost of advanced wound dressings: High costs of advanced wound healing films compared to traditional dressings is a major barrier to adoption especially in emerging economies where patients have limited disposable incomes and underdeveloped healthcare infrastructure.
• Reimbursement issues in emerging markets: Reimbursement challenges also restrain market growth in developing regions where advanced films may not be covered adequately under insurance plans or government healthcare programs.
• Lack of trained professionals: In rural areas and smaller healthcare settings, lack of trained professionals on appropriate use of wound healing films affects product adoption and prospects of player penetration in these regions.
• Side effects of certain dressings: Hypersensitivity, maceration, and skin irritations in some patients due to components of certain wound healing films poses a challenge for universal usage and may necessitate discontinuation.

Counterbalances: The key market players should provide proper reimbursements, to cover the high costs of advanced dressings and also efficient and trained professionals for adoption of the advanced wound dressing. 

Figure 2. Global Wound Healing Films Market Share (%), By Application, 2023

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Recent Developments:

New product launches/approval:

• On January 3, 2023, Convatec Group PLC, a medical device company, launched the U.S. ConvaFoam, a family of advanced foam dressings designed to address the needs of healthcare providers and their patients. ConvaFoam can be used on a spectrum of wound types at any stage of the wound journey, thus making it the simple dressing choice for wound management and skin protection.
• In October 2022, Healthium Medtech, a global medical devices company focused on surgical, post-surgical and chronic care, launched a new wound dressing portfolio Theruptor Novo for the management of chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers and leg ulcers.
• In April 2022, BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) approached to identify and develop transformative medicines in neuroscience and immuno-oncology, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved IGALMI (dexmedetomidine) sublingual film for the acute treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar I or II disorder in adults.

Acquisition and investment:

• In December 2021, Essity, a hygiene and health company, announced it had acquired the company Hydrofera, a developer of antibacterial wound dressings. The acquisition supports Essity's strategic priority to grow through acquisitions in medical solutions.
• In September 2021, Healthium Medtech, a global medical devices company focused on surgical, post-surgical and chronic care, announced the acquisition of CareNow Medical Private Limited, a global medical-technology company, strengthening its product portfolio with patented and differentiated products in the advanced wound management and infection prevention segments.
• In February 2021, the Digital Technology Supercluster invested US$ 2.5 Mn into a new US$ 3.1 Mn initiative, Telewound Care Canada, intended to aid wound patients access care virtually.

Top Companies in Global Wound Healing Films Market:

• 3M Company
• Braun Melsungen
• Noventure
• ConvaTec
• Medline Industries
• Smith & Nephew
• Integra Lifesciences
• Molnlycke Health Care
• Paul Hartmann
• Baxter
• Coloplast A/S
• Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.
• Hydrofera
• Cardinal Health
• Essity

Definition: Wound healing films are thin, flexible sheet dressings that provide moist wound environment, absorb exudates, allow gaseous exchange and prevent microbial invasion. They are used for treating acute wounds such as burns, cuts and chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and others in order to accelerate wound closure.