Dermalage
This is perhaps one of the most exciting initiatives we’ve embarked upon in Nicaragua to date. A friend and supporter of One Collective has a patent-pending pharmaceutical product called Dermalage, which is essentially wound cleansing solution that removes biofilms and allows festering wounds to properly heal. The team at Dermalage is actively pursuing patents and market opportunities in Europe and Asia, and in 2019 asked us to pursue the Latin American market with our regional contacts. We decided to start in Nicaragua, where we have been:
Testing the product in local clinics, hospitals and with patients in our networks.
Looking at market potential within the socialistic healthcare systems that are commonplace in Latin America.
Looking into manufacturing opportunities in Nicaragua in an effort to drive down product costs.
The initial results from testing the product in Nicaragua have been nothing short of miraculous. Due to the rampant diabetes pandemic in Nicaragua, diabetic wounds and the resulting amputations are a major issue within the healthcare system, as it is costly to both the patient (losing a limb) and the healthcare system (patient doesn’t pay in public hospitals). Initial testing with Dermalage has resulted in wounds that otherwise would have led to amputation fully healing. Our partner doctors have been astonished by its effectiveness in this use case. There is also optimism for its use on burn victims, motorcycle accidents that result in road rash, and other cases that within a poverty context often lead to extreme consequences for the patience (like amputation). One of the leading causes of death in Nicaragua is by infection as a result of poor wound care and unsanitary hospital conditions. We are very optimistic about the impact of this product in the developing world, as well as the real market potential it has globally.
