Smith+Nephew launches next-generation ALLEVYN™ COMPLETE CARE Foam Dressing - designed for high performance in wound management and pressure injury prevention

Smith+Nephew (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN), the global medical technology company, recently announced the launch of ALLEVYN^♢ COMPLETE CARE Foam Dressing, featuring proprietary technologies and performance backed by a portfolio of strong scientific data and clinical evidence.

ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressing has a unique five-layer construction with distinct mode of action technologies targeted towards both wound management and pressure injury prevention. Minimising leakage^1-4 and disruption by fewer dressing changes^5-7, and protecting vulnerable skin^8-10 are essential to achieving this goal.

Global estimates suggest that up to one in 50 adults are affected by chronic wounds in their lifetime, facing delayed healing and complications that impact daily life¹¹. Studies report up to one in 10 hospitalised patients are affected by pressure injuries¹², with hospital-acquired pressure injuries associated with an average of 9.5 additional days of hospital stay¹³. Pressure injuries and chronic wounds continue to place a significant burden on the broader healthcare system.

Rohit Kashyap, President of Advanced Wound Management at Smith+Nephew, said “ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE is a true next-generation dressing that reflects our continued commitment to wound care innovation, delivering meaningful benefit where it matters most. Every dressing is designed for strong performance in both wound treatment and pressure injury prevention, helping patients get back to what they love, whilst reducing the costly and complex clinical burden.”

ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressing’s proprietary technologies have advanced capabilities that are designed to help clinicians care with confidence. The dressing was developed to address the needs of both wound management and pressure injury prevention, informed by collaboration with healthcare professionals and patients worldwide.

It is proven to lock in significantly more exudate than other foam dressings¹⁴* while keeping over 99% of bacteria away from the wound bed^15†. This minimises leakage¹⁶*, enables longer wear times^17,18‡ for undisturbed healing, and has potential to release over 10% of valuable nursing time^19§.

Unbonded sliding layers within the dressing absorb up to 93% of mechanical energy^20†, helping to reduce the risk of pressure injury by over 65%^21-23¶.

Amit Gefen, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Tel Aviv University, Israel, explains how ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressing’s advanced biomechanical performance was intentionally designed to benefit patients.

“ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressing’s unbonded multilayer structure delivers a distinct mode of action that helps dissipate shear forces before they reach the skin and underlying soft tissues. This pioneering technology protects soft tissue and minimises the risk of developing a pressure injury.”^24,25#

ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressing is available in five different shapes and a variety of sizes to meet a diverse range of wound care needs. Initially available in the US, the dressing will be launching in many European and other international markets in 2026 as we continue to support patients’ unique needs, and shape what’s possible in wound care.

To learn more about ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressing, please click here.

* As demonstrated in-vitro; p<0.001

† Tested in-vitro

‡ ALLEVYN 5-layer dressings; compared to previous foam dressings

§ The data set used to create the 3.5 billion hour model revealed that globally, 4,011,188,929 hours is spent on dressing changes in the community per year, ALLEVYN 5-layer dressings as part of a shared wound care approach have the potential to release 10.8% (433,208,404) of these hours.

¶ ALLEVYN 5-layer dressings; reduction of per-patient cost of 37-69%; compared with using standard preventive care alone; n=359

# As demonstrated in Finite Element Modelling (FEM) model of the heel.

References

1. Smith+Nephew 2025. Bacterial absorbance, sequestration & retention testing of ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE. Internal report: CSD.AWM.25.019 V2.
2. Smith+Nephew 2025. Free swell Absorbency and Retention after Compression Testing of ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressing. Internal report: CSD.AWM.25.008.
3. Tiscar-González V, Menor-Rodríguez MJ, Rabadán-Sainz C, et al. Clinical and Economic Impact of Wound Care Using a Polyurethane Foam Multilayer Dressing. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2021;34(1):23-30.
4. Rossington A, Drysdale, K, and Winter R. Clinical performance and positive impact on patient wellbeing of ALLEVYN Life. Wounds UK. 2013;9(4):91-95.
5. Smith+Nephew 2025. Change Indicator Usability of ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE. Internal report: CSD.AWM.25.023 V2.
6. Costa B, Allen D. Results from an international survey: foam dressings with WTCI may enhance clinician confidence to extend wear times compared with other foam dressings. Poster presented at: the 33rd conference of the EWMA; May 3‒5, 2023; Milan, Italy.
7. Hurd T, Allen D, Saunders C. Reduced weekly dressing changes with a five-layer foam dressing compared with other previously used dressings in wounds of mixed aetiology: results of a systematic literature review and meta‒analysis of clinical studies. Poster presented at: the 33rd conference of the EWMA; May 3‒5, 2023; Milan, Italy.
8. Smith+Nephew 2024. Comparison of Frictional Energy Absorber Effectiveness (FEAE) in two five-layer hydrocellular polyurethane foam dressings (HPFD) containing superabsorber and masking layers. Internal report: CSD.AWM.24.057 V2.
9. Smith+Nephew 2024. Finite Element Modelling (FEM) of ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressing as a prophylactic dressing used to protect the posterior heel. Internal report: CSD.AWM.24.058 V2.
10. Atkinson L, Costa B. Poster presented at: European Wound Management Association (EWMA);Pressure Injury Prevention with A Unique Multi-Layer Foam Dressing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled trials. May 1–3, 2024; London, UK (NB: PIP meta-analysis)
11. Atkin L. Clinical inertia in chronic wound care, Wounds International. 2025; 16 (1): 48 - 51.
12. Li Z, Lin F, Thalib L, Chaboyer W. Global prevalence and incidence of pressure injuries in hospitalised adult patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2020;105:103546.
13. Wassel CL, Delhougne G, Gayle JA, Dreyfus J, Larson B. Risk of readmissions, mortality, and hospital-acquired conditions across hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) stages in a US National Hospital Discharge database. Int Wound J. 2020;17(6):1924–1934.
14. Smith+Nephew 2025. Internal report: CSD.AWM.25.042 V2.
15. Smith+Nephew 2025. Bacterial absorbance, sequestration & retention testing of ALLEVYN^◊ COMPLETE CARE Dressing. Internal report: CSD.AWM.25.019 V2.
16. Smith+Nephew 2024. Internal report: CSD.AWM.24.057 V2
17. Atkinson L, Allen D, Costa B. Poster presented at: European Wound Management Association (EWMA); May 1–3, 2024; London, UK. (NB: EM meta-analysis)
18. Costa B, Allen D. Poster presented at: European Wound Management Association (EWMA); May 3–5, 2023; Milan, Italy.
19. Moore Z, Loney A, Probst S, et al. 3.5 billion hours of nurse time released by 2030: Potential efficiency gains from shared care and long-wear advanced foam dressings. Wounds International. 2022;13(2):10–16.
20. Orlova D, Orlov A, Gefen A. The Protective Efficacy of a New Soft Silicone Multi-Layer Dressing in Reducing the Heel Pressure Ulcer Risk. International Wound Journal. 2025;22(10):e70764.
21. Atkinson L, Costa B. Pressure Injury Prevention with A Unique Multi-Layer Foam Dressing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Poster presented at the 34th European Wound Management Association Annual Meeting, May 1-3, 2024, London, UK.
22. Marché C, Creehan S, Gefen A. The frictional energy absorber effectiveness and its impact on the pressure ulcer prevention performance of multilayer dressings. Int Wound J. 2024 Apr;21(4):e14871.
23. Forni C, Searle R. A multilayer polyurethane foam dressing for pressure ulcer prevention in older hip fracture patients: an economic evaluation. J Wound Care. 2020 Feb 2;29(2):120-127.
24. Smith+Nephew 2024. Comparison of Frictional Energy Absorber Effectiveness (FEAE) in two five-layer hydrocellular polyurethane foam dressings (HPFD) containing superabsorber and masking layers. Internal report: CSD.AWM.24.057 V2.
25. Smith+Nephew 2024. Finite Element Modelling (FEM) of ALLEVYN COMPLETE CARE Dressing as a prophylactic dressing used to protect the posterior heel. Internal report: CSD.AWM.24.058 V2.

Enquiries

Frida Wilhelmsson        +46 (738) 499 429
Smith+Nephew            frida.wilhelmsson@smith-nephew.com

About Smith+Nephew

Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology business focused on the repair, regeneration and replacement of soft and hard tissue. We exist to restore people’s bodies and their self-belief by using technology to take the limits off living. We call this purpose ‘Life Unlimited’. Our 17,000 employees deliver this mission every day, making a difference to patients’ lives through the excellence of our product portfolio, and the invention and application of new technologies across our three global business units of Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & ENT and Advanced Wound Management.

Founded in Hull, UK, in 1856, we now operate in around 100 countries, and generated annual sales of $6.2 billion in 2025. Smith+Nephew is a constituent of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN). The terms ‘Group’ and ‘Smith+Nephew’ are used to refer to Smith & Nephew plc and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

For more information about Smith+Nephew, please visit www.smith-nephew.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

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