Derma Sciences To Market Body Cleansing Sponges

Derma Sciences Inc, Princeton, NJ, a national supplier of skin care and advanced wound care products, has been awarded exclusive sales and distribution rights for the world’s largest markets, including Japan and the Americas, as well as nonexclusive rights for all other markets, for a line of body cleansing sponges for use in hospitals, nursing homes and in home-health settings. The patented Soft Wash product line was designed, developed and manufactured by Medi-Health Products Ltd of Bray, Ireland.

The Soft Wash body sponge allows caregivers to provide optimal care efficiently and quickly by substituting for the traditional wash-and-rinse method. In terms of time spent with patients, savings in labor costs can add up substantially. Designed as a nonrinse product, this single-use sponge contains a cleansing preparation powder called lathanol lal, which is a version of sodium lauryl suphoacetate, a compound that is used as a soap replacement wherever soap sensitivity is found. It is hypoallergenic and does not irritate the eyes or cause dryness of the skin.

Using a patented process, Soft Wash sponges are compressed, rolled and sealed into individual packets, which are a convenient size for both carrying and storage. They are simple to use and help avoid the potential problems of cross-contamination. Soft Wash has been approved by most European Health Authorities, including the United Kingdom’s National Health Service and the Irish Health Board, and can be marketed in the United States without FDA clearance.

President and CEO, Edward J. Quilty commented, “These one-time-use disposable sponges are being used in hospitals throughout Ireland with great success, as well as in many hospitals in the United Kingdom and Greece. Market research indicates that demand is increasing on a month-to-month basis, with new evaluations already taking place in Belgium, Germany, Australia and the U.S. Soft Wash sponges complement our already extensive and respected line of skin care and wound care products, and can be sold easily by our existing network of direct sales personnel, manufacturer’s representatives and distributors.”

Mr. Quilty noted that there are plans to put the product into patient trials by one of the largest medical products distribution companies in the U.S. He also said that because these sponges are perfect for use at home, they are exploring retail pharmacy settings, in venues such as Wal-Mart, as an additional method of branding the product and increasing sales.

James Brady, founder of Medi-Health Products Ltd said, “Soft Wash sales throughout Europe have continued to grow over the past year, with volume doubling during that time. We already export the sponge to markets in the United Kingdom, Greece, Denmark and Belgium and, due to enquiries for market research orders in Japan, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, Canada, Australia and the United States, we have been seeking to appoint other companies that have capable sales and distribution channels, such as Derma Sciences, as marketers and distributors in those key markets.”