Derma Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSCI), a medical device and pharmaceutical
company focused on advanced wound care, announces the achievement of
regulatory and commercial milestones.
Late last week the Company submitted a 510(k) application to the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MEDIHONEY® Gel Wound & Burn
Dressing. This latest MEDIHONEY line extension is dispensed from a tube
and is comprised of Active Manuka (Leptospermum) Honey blended
with gelling agents. It is intended for use in hard-to-dress areas and
wounds. The Company expects an initial response by the FDA within 90
days of the date of submission. MEDIHONEY Gel is patented in the EU and
is the subject of a patent application in the U.S.
'We have been systematically building our portfolio of novel
proprietary, higher-margin, advanced wound-care products, and look
forward to introducing MEDIHONEY Gel into the U.S. market upon receipt
of FDA clearance,' said Edward J. Quilty, chairman and chief executive
officer of Derma Sciences. 'It is challenging to keep medical honey at
the site of a wound for an extended period of time because when it comes
into contact with body fluids or heat, it turns into a thin, runny
liquid. Most of the patents covering our unique line of MEDIHONEY
dressings are based on this challenge, helping to keep the honey within
certain dressings and formulations so it can remain at the wound site
for extended periods of time – even in the presence of wound fluid. Our
patented MEDIHONEY Gel achieves this goal and will provide clinicians
with another alternative dressing type to help expand usage.'
The Company also achieved its staffing goal of 20 direct sales
representatives in the U.S. by the end of the second quarter, a doubling
from 10 representatives at the close of 2009.
'I am particularly delighted with the quality of sales representatives
who are attracted to the growth opportunity that Derma Sciences
represents,' commented Mr. Quilty. 'With the successful introduction of
five innovative advanced wound care product lines over the past three
years, we are building our sales presence to support growing demand. We
believe these new sales professionals will reach productivity goals
faster than our earlier hires because of the established awareness of
MEDIHONEY and our other new brands, as well as the large and growing
body of published clinical data that supports their efficacy.'
About Derma Sciences, Inc.
Derma Sciences is a global medical device and pharmaceutical company
focused on wound care. Its MEDIHONEY® product is the leading brand of
honey-based dressings for the management of wounds and burns. The
product has been shown to be effective in a variety of indications, and
was the focus of a positive large-scale, randomized controlled trial
involving 108 leg ulcer patients. Other novel products introduced into
the $14 billion global wound care market include XTRASORB® for better
management of wound exudates, and BIOGUARD™ for infection prevention.
Derma Sciences also expects to complete preclinical studies with DSC127,
a novel pharmaceutical for accelerated wound healing and scar reduction,
by the end of 2010. For more information please visit www.dermasciences.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not statements of
historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as 'may,' 'will,'
'expect,' 'believe,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'could,' 'estimate' or
'continue' are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers
are cautioned that certain important factors may affect the Company's
actual results and could cause such results to differ materially from
any forward-looking statements that may be made in this news release or
that are otherwise made by or on behalf of the Company. Factors that may
affect the Company's results include, but are not limited to, product
demand, market acceptance, impact of competitive products and prices,
product development, completion of an acquisition, commercialization or
technological difficulties, the success or failure of negotiations and
trade, legal, social and economic risks. Additional factors that could
cause or contribute to differences between the Company's actual results
and forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, those
discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.

Derma Sciences, Inc. Barry
Wolfenson Executive Vice President, Global Marketing and Business
Development 609-514-4744 bwolfenson@dermasciences.com or Lippert/Heilshorn
& Associates Investors Kim
Sutton Golodetz, 212-838-3777 kgolodetz@lhai.com or Bruce
Voss, 310-691-7100 bvoss@lhai.com Media Megan
Rusnack, 212-838-3777 mrusnack@lhai.com |