BIOGUARD wound dressings with Quick-Med’s NIMBUS antimicrobial technology to be sold by Medline Industries

Feb 18 2010

Quick-Med Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:QMDT) announced today that its licensee, Derma Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:DSCI), has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Medline Industries whereby Medline will market and sell BIOGUARD™ wound dressings with Quick-Med’s proprietary NIMBUS antimicrobial technology. The agreement covers the acute care segment of the health care market, which includes nearly 6,000 hospitals in the United States plus surgery centers, wound care centers, and other associated health care facilities. Sales under this new agreement are expected to start later this month.

“Quick-Med is delighted that Derma Sciences is partnering with Medline to bring our unique NIMBUS technology to the acute care market”

Medline is America's largest privately-held distributor of health care products. With more than 800 sales representatives nationwide, Medline is a leading distributor of medical products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies. Medline serves as the primary distributor to more than 250 major hospitals and health care systems and is the second largest distributor of traditional wound care products to acute care facilities. Its sustained record of growth has earned the distinction of being the fastest growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S. over the past 5 years.

The new arrangement with Medline is expected to take account of the newly expanded range of wound dressing product formats included in Quick-Med’s recently announced amendment to Derma Sciences’ NIMBUS license. According to Derma Sciences, BIOGUARD will be a key new product introduction in 2010 for Medline, adding to Medline’s list of proprietary wound care products in the United States.

"Quick-Med is delighted that Derma Sciences is partnering with Medline to bring our unique NIMBUS technology to the acute care market,” said J. Ladd Greeno, Quick-Med’s CEO. “We are thrilled that Medline’s vast sales organization will be promoting BIOGUARD dressings with NIMBUS technology. Medline’s established market leader position with many Group Purchasing Organization agreements already in place will facilitate and accelerate adoption of our innovative NIMBUS technology.”

Derma Sciences has also announced that it will double its own sales force from 10 to 20 sales representatives during 2010 with continued focus outside of acute care. With this expanded sales team, Derma Sciences will continue to directly market and sell BIOGUARD dressings in its core market segments.

Commenting on this new contract, Derma Sciences’ CEO Ed Quilty stated, “With almost 6,000 hospitals in the US, a very large specialty sales force is necessary for optimal penetration into this market. Medline is a proven leader in acute care, both in traditional and advanced wound care. They are a perfect partner for us to maximize BIOGUARD sales.”

Quick-Med expects NIMBUS to become an important technology in the $14 billion global wound care market as wound care companies and health care professionals look for more effective and efficient ways to prevent infections and avoid cross-contamination. The aging population will continue to drive significant growth in the wound care market while continuing attention on reducing hospital infection rates will accelerate the push for cost-effective antimicrobial dressings.

NIMBUS is the first non-leaching antimicrobial available in a wound dressing. It received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance in February, 2009 and Derma Sciences introduced its BIOGUARD dressings in June 2009. BIOGUARD dressings are the first wound care products to feature Quick-Med’s novel, FDA-cleared NIMBUS technology. The dressings serve as a barrier to infection, kill germs absorbed into the dressing, and do not interfere with tissue healing. The NIMBUS active agent maintains effectiveness even in the presence of large amounts of proteinaceous exudates.

The Company believes that being the only non-leaching antimicrobial dressing is an important distinction; other antimicrobial dressings rely on the release of chemicals to the wound bed that can impede the wound healing process. By design, NIMBUS poses no risk of bacteria developing resistance. NIMBUS technology is protected by nine U.S. patents and patents pending and 24 foreign counterparts.

Further information about the amendment to the Patent and Technology Licensing Agreement will be available through a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed on or before Friday, February 19, 2010.