MHRA approval follows Polaroid Therapeutics’ investment in the University of Hull’s Wound Innovation Institute, paving the way for a UK evaluation programme addressing surgical, diabetic and venous wounds
Schlieren, 19/08/2026 – Polaroid Therapeutics today announced that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved POLTX_Fiber™, permitting the antimicrobial wound dressing to be prescribed in the United Kingdom. The approval extends access to POLTX_Fiber™ beyond Polaroid Therapeutics’ existing European markets and lays the groundwork for a UK evaluation programme with the University of Hull, through which more than 100 patients will be able to benefit from the product directly.
Wound care remains one of the most significant, and often under-recognised, burdens on the UK health system. Leg and foot ulcers alone account for 37% of the 3.8 million wounds requiring NHS care, with total treatment costs across all these wounds exceeding £8 billion (Legs Matter, 2025). Diabetic foot ulcers present a particular challenge for timely care, with a recent NHS Audit finding that only 20% of people with a new ulcer episode were seen by a specialist within three days, well below the 70% benchmark NHS England has set for assessment within 14 days (NHS England Digital, 2025).
Reducing infection risk and supporting effective wound management at the point of care is central to easing this burden, and is the challenge POLTX_Fiber™ has been designed to address. The 200 gsm non-woven dressings combine sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) fibers, strengthening cellulose fibers, and Polaroid’s proprietary Antimicrobial Polymer Technology (APT™). As the dressing absorbs wound exudate, APT™ works to prevent bacterial colonization, reducing a key risk factor that can turn a healing wound into an unhealed, costlier one. The fibers simultaneously form a gel that maintains a moist wound environment, supports autolytic debridement, and protects the wound edge and surrounding skin from maceration, all while the dressing’s structure remains intact throughout the gel-forming process.
Following this approval, Polaroid Therapeutics is working with the University of Hull to launch a product evaluation programme by September 2026, enrolling more than 100 patients with acute and chronic wounds. This programme represents the primary route through which UK patients will access POLTX_Fiber™ ahead of wider distribution. It will be led by Professor Matthew Hardmann at the Hull Wound Innovation Institute, alongside Professor Dan Carradice and Dr George Smith of Hull York Medical School (HYMS), and will focus on three patient populations: closed lower limb surgical incisional wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, and venous leg ulcers.
“Chronic wounds and antimicrobial resistance are two of the biggest unmet challenges in healthcare, and this approval will enable us to tackle them together for the first time in the UK,” said Ran Frenkel, CEO, Polaroid Therapeutics. “It is an exciting step in moving POLTX_Fiber™ out of the lab and into a real world evaluation with the patients who need it most, in partnership with Professor Hardman and the University of Hull Wound Innovation Institute.”
About Polaroid Therapeutics
Polaroid Therapeutics is a Swiss-based biotech start-up in the development of innovative antimicrobial technology. Incubated and developed by Polaroid, the brand that pioneered the complex chemistry and technology behind analog instant photography. Polaroid Therapeutics’ mission is to create human-centric medical solutions built on its scientific and technological advancements.
Founded in 2022, PTx has developed APT™ (Antimicrobial Polymer Technology), a platform that enables controlled antimicrobial performance through structural design rather than chemical release. APT™ integrates proprietary polymer chemistry that can be adapted across multiple formats and clinical contexts, reflecting the company’s focus on responsible innovation, regulated evidence, and long-term antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stewardship.
About the MHRA
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK, ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All of its work is underpinned by robust and fact based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks. The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.