LA JOLLA, Calif. — September 26, 2024 - Every year, millions of patients around the world that have had surgery deal with delayed healing and discomfort due to limitations with traditional wound closure devices. Complications such as infection, allergic skin reactions/irritation, discomfort, blisters and premature detachment are common. Now, there is a promising innovation gaining interest and visibility from healthcare systems and providers - SYLKE® Adhesive Wound Closure.
Today, at the 93rd annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in San Diego, CA, SYLKE® has shared results from a study it conducted looking at the effectiveness of a silk surgical site wound closure prototype versus traditional synthetic dressings. In tandem, SYLKE® announces that it has secured $5.5 million in a Seed funding round. The company will use these proceeds to speed up new innovations, scale its offerings and expand the team.
The highlights include:
- 75 percent of patients had partial or total detachment of post-operatively placed Steri-Strips® while 0 percent had total detachment of the silk dressing and 18.8 percent had partial detachment of the silk prototype within the first two weeks after surgery.
- 20.8 percent of patients were assessed by surgeons as having erythema at the surgical site on the side of the body where Steri- Strip® closure was used and 0 percent had erythema on the silk prototype side.
- The frequency of breast triple point separation after breast reductions in 43 patients was 30.2 percent on the side where Steri-Strip® closure was used and 9.3 percent on the side where the silk prototype was used.
When combined with the results of a previously published study using the SYLKE® prototype vs. Prineo Dermabond, authors from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the University of California San Diego concluded that:
- Discomfort after surgery at the surgical site decreased from 57.5 percent to 4.1 percent using the SYLKE® prototype
- Itching and inflammation at the surgical site decreased from 45.2 percent to 5.5 percent using the SYLKE® prototype.
- Erythema at the surgical site decreased from 53.4 percent to 1.4 percent using the SYLKE® prototype
“One in seven patients who undergo surgery will have a medical adhesive related skin injury as a result of the adhesive dressing used on their skin…yet there have not been substantial improvements or innovative breakthroughs to change this until now,” said Dr. Mark Mofid, Founder and CEO of SYLKE®. “The silk fibroin wound dressing has been shown to improve patient outcomes and comfort while decreasing the incidence of medical adhesive related skin injuries and wound healing complications. Feedback from the healthcare system has been overwhelmingly positive and we are poised for an exciting next twelve months and beyond.”
SYLKE® Adhesive Wound Closure is made from 99.9 percent non-immunogenic, medical-grade silk fibroin. This innovation offers a biocompatible, breathable, and water-resistant closure that gently yet securely adheres to the skin. Its unique 360° stretch mimics the natural elasticity of skin, allowing for movement without compromising the wound closure. With up to 14 days of wear time, even on dynamic areas like joints, SYLKE® is designed to protect the wound, offload tension, and support the body's natural healing process. SYLKE® is not just improving wound care - it defines a new standard of care that prioritizes patient outcomes and advances the future of healthcare.
