The European Wound Management Association (EWMA) named Fertram Sigurjonsson, founder and CEO of the medical-fish-skin company Kerecis, the President’s Wound Care Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award was announced at the annual EWMA Innovation Forum.
This award celebrates individuals who have “demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, making significant strides in advancing wound care solutions and improving patient lives.” In its announcement, the EWMA stated that Sigurjonsson “exemplifies the essence of entrepreneurship with his groundbreaking work in tissue regeneration.”
Under Sigurjonsson’s leadership, Kerecis has developed products from fish skin and fatty acids for cellular therapy, tissue regeneration and protection. The products are primarily used to treat chronic and acute wounds, burns, surgical wounds and trauma. When grafted onto damaged human tissue or implanted, the patented material supports the body’s own processes to heal and regenerate. Clinical studies have found that the Kerecis products heal wounds faster than competing products and are cost effective. To date, tens of thousands of patients have benefitted from being treated with Kerecis fish skin.
“Receiving this award is a milestone in our journey—from idea to life-changing impact. It’s truly gratifying for me to see my invention succeed and significantly improve health outcomes. Kerecis remains dedicated to the entrepreneurial spirit, always listening to and learning from doctors and patients. We will continue pushing science’s boundaries to meet their needs and advance medical treatment,” said Sigurjonsson.
