Z-Medica Corporation has been awarded a $2.9m US Navy and Marine contract to begin large-scale human studies on stopping bleeding in penetrating wounds, using its new haemostatic gauze product at five major university and hospital trauma centres in the US.
The US Department of Defense Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care has provided the funding to advance haemorrhage treatment for tourniquet-resistant wounds associated with small entry / large exit wounds from high velocity bullets and other traumatic injuries frequently encountered on the battlefield.
The clinical studies will take place at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; the University of Miami; the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts Vanderbilt University in Nashville; and Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut.
The QuikClot Combat Gauze technology combines surgical gauze with a proprietary inorganic material to stop arterial and venous bleeding in seconds.
Z-Medica CEO Raymond J Huey said that he believes the technology to be the best available haemostatic agent available.
“These are important studies that will result in new knowledge and medical techniques for saving both military and civilian lives,” Huey said.
Prior to its deployment earlier this year, QuikClot Combat Gauze was tested in pre-clinical trials at the Naval Medical Research Centre, the University of California, Santa Barbara, the University of Massachusetts Medical School and at various field facilities. The technology has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration.
By Daniel Garrun.
