Open wounds that simply won't heal are a pain for those affected. They cause pain, restrict freedom of movement and, in the worst case, can even lead to amputation. The problem behind this is often excessive inflammation, which blocks the healing process. There is currently no effective treatment for this cause. But that could soon change.
The Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF) launched its tenth spin-off in June 2025. ResCure GmbH wants to bring an innovative wound dressing to the market that specifically combats chronic inflammation. The special feature is a special plastic, a polymer that neutralizes inflammatory messengers in the body. A clinical study is currently underway at several clinics focusing on open leg ulcers. The interim results are promising and the study is due to be completed in summer 2026.
Plastic intercepts inflammatory substances
In chronic skin wounds, excessive inflammation ensures that the wound cannot heal. Immune cells keep migrating in and releasing inflammatory messengers. This further damages the tissue. The Dresden technology works differently to previous wound dressings. After extensive basic research, the scientists have developed a unique polymer material. This neutralizes the inflammation-promoting messenger substances through targeted electrostatic interactions. Put simply, the material attracts the harmful inflammatory substances like a magnet and renders them harmless, resulting in the ResCure Dressing, which is applied directly to the wound.
In laboratory tests with chronic wound models, the new dressing significantly outperformed the best products to date. Wound healing was accelerated by up to 50 percent. "With ResCure Dressing, we are pursuing a radically innovative approach to resolving chronic inflammatory processes," says Dr. Uwe Freudenberg, Managing Director of ResCure GmbH. The company plans to launch the wound dressing on the market as early as 2027 and later develop further products for chronic inflammatory diseases. Freudenberg hopes that this will help many patients and relieve the burden on the healthcare system.
European Union supports the transfer
ResCure GmbH recently acquired the patents and trademark rights from the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden. This creates the basis for subsequent commercialization. The European Union is supporting the technology transfer with funding from the Sächsische Aufbaubank. The young company is systematically preparing for CE certification, which is mandatory for medical products in Europe. At the same time, it is expanding production in order to be able to deliver quickly after approval.
