Polaroid Therapeutics Partners with SFM Limited to Advance AMR Management

Swiss-based biotech start-up, Polaroid Therapeutics (PTx), has entered a development partnership with fibre development expert, SFM Limited (SFM). SFM and PTx will work together on advanced antibacterial gelling fibre while addressing one of the largest global health concerns outlined by The World Health Organisation, antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
 
Ran Frenkel, CEO and co-founder of Polaroid Therapeutics, said, “At Polaroid Therapeutics, we believe AMR demands our urgent and focused attention.  Partnering with an agile and innovative company like SFM allows us to tackle this global health crisis head-on. Our combined expertise aims to transform wound care by integrating our disruptive antimicrobial technology with SFM’s advanced fibres. This isn’t just about treating wounds; it’s about preventing infections, improving healing, and saving lives.”
 
Under the partnership, SFM Limited will work with PTx to develop a novel carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) dressing that leverages PTx’s proprietary materials. SFM will perform a series of trials to evaluate the feasibility of integrating PTx’s Antimicrobial polymer technology (APT) into the novel CMC fibres. The goal of the trials is to create an innovative wound dressing that prevents infection and aids healing. 
 
Amanda Ling, Managing Director of SFM, said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Polaroid Therapeutics team. Integrating PTx’s novel antibacterial technology with our existing gelling fibre platform, is about developing to disrupt the status quo in advanced wound care and meet the needs of patients with complex wounds. It’s all about making a difference to patient’s lives at the end, and on this PTx and SFM have a symbiotic alignment.”
 
Polaroid Therapeutics’ proprietary polymeric antimicrobial technology, based on quaternized polyethyleneimine (QPEI) will be used in the partnership. This novel polymer will be combined with SFM’s CMC fibre technology to create a groundbreaking wound-healing system that actively reduces infection risks and promotes overall health improvement. 
 
SFM and Polaroid Therapeutics are developing advanced dressings and techniques that aim to significantly improve outcomes for patients with cavity wounds. Addressing cavity wounds requires a comprehensive approach that includes effective exudate management, infection control, moisture balance, dead space-filling, pain management, and patient compliance. 

Development activities between PTx and SFM commenced earlier in June 2024.