Better Healing for Millions: Serigen’s Role in Transforming Tissue Regeneration in India
India faces a staggering burden of tissue regeneration needs for applications like complex wounds, bone trauma and breast reconstruction. At Serigen, we’re not just building medical solutions, we are providing better outcomes for millions of patients. From diabetic foot ulcers to complex fractures, our mission is clear: make healing accessible and effective for even the most difficult clinical problems. Here’s a data-driven look at the immense scope of the challenge, and how Serigen is uniquely positioned to meet it.
1. Diabetic Wounds: A Growing Epidemic
India has the second-highest number of diabetic patients globally—74.9 million in the 20–79 age group as of 2021, projected to grow to 124.9 million by 2045 [1].
Studies estimate that 15–25% of diabetics in India develop diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) during their lifetime [2][3].
That means nearly 16 million Indians may be living with slow-healing, infection-prone diabetic wounds—that adversely impact the patient’s quality of life, often leading to amputation if left untreated. Serigen’s advanced wound dressing, SERIDERM®, is clinically proven to accelerate the healing of chronic, slow-healing wounds such as diabetic ulcers – delivering faster recovery backed by real-world results. Explore clinical case reports demonstrating SERIDERM®’s impact on advanced wound care here.
2. The Orthopedic Burden: Over 4.5 Million Open Fractures a Year
India sees more than 4.5 million open fractures every year [4]—a staggering number driven by road traffic accidents, falls, and industrial injuries.
Open fractures are among the most complex bone trauma cases, often requiring surgical intervention and significant time to heal. Moreover, the risk of infection and non-union remains high, especially in resource-limited settings [5].
In such scenarios, our flagship product SERIOSS®, an osteoconductive bone void filler powered by silk protein, offers 2x better bone healing outcomes than existing alternatives and minimizes surgical complications – as observed in clinical studies. We are proud to be the world’s first company to successfully conduct a clinical trial using silk for bone repair, with good new bone formation in all patients and no complaints from patients/surgeons.
3. Burn Injuries: 6 to 7 Million Cases Annually
India faces an estimated 6–7 million burn injuries per year [6][7]. Despite the scale of the problem, access to advanced burn care remains limited, especially outside metro cities. Many patients require advanced wound care to support healing and prevent infection.
Serigen’s advanced wound dressings offer expedited healing and infection control for first and second-degree burn cases, potentially improving healing outcomes for millions in India alone.
4. Breast Reconstruction: A Vital Yet Underused Procedure
In 2023, 221,579 cases of breast cancer were reported in India [8]. Most women (approx. 78.7%) undergo mastectomy as part of treatment [9]. However, the reconstruction rate post-mastectomy still remains low—just 4% according to one major study [10]. This translates to ~7,500–10,000 breast reconstructions performed each year in India. With the breast cancer incidence expected to rise by 50,000 new cases annually at a 5.6% growth rate [9], the need for reconstruction support and awareness around the same is only growing.
In an advanced economy like the USA, the breast reconstruction procedure is adopted by ~50% of mastectomy patients. It is expected that in India too, many more mastectomy patients will adopt breast reconstruction procedures in coming years.
Serigen is supporting this trend by making breast reconstruction safer and more effective with SERIMAT®, a biocompatible soft tissue regeneration matrix for superior breast tissue reconstruction. SERIMAT® can potentially help restore normalcy and confidence to thousands of women after breast cancer surgery in India alone.
Our Singular Purpose: Helping Millions in Need of Better Healing
Behind these statistics are human lives—millions of patients waiting for better outcomes. Serigen is proud to be part of the solution, bringing innovative tissue engineering solutions to the forefront of Indian healthcare.
By grounding our science in empathy and evidence, we’re not only treating clinical problems—we’re helping patients rebuild their lives. We are proud to be trusted by leading hospitals and clinicians across India, and remain committed to expanding our reach, to improve healing outcomes for patients in every corner of the country.
References
[1] Maiti, S., Akhtar, S., Upadhyay, A. K., & Mohanty, S. K. (2023). Socioeconomic inequality in awareness, treatment and control of diabetes among adults in India: Evidence from National Family Health Survey of India (NFHS), 2019–2021. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 2971. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29978-y
[2] Ghosh, P., & Valia, R. (2017). Burden of diabetic foot ulcers in India: Evidence landscape from published literature. Value in Health, 20(9), A485. https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(17)30823-9/fulltext
[3] Rodrigues, J., Reshamarani, P., & Frazer, J. (2023). A clinicopathological study on management of diabetic foot ulcer in tertiary care centre. The Foot, 54, 101971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foot.2023.101971
[4] Jindal, R., Dhillon, M., Mittal, N., Aggarwal, A., Malhotra, A., & Garg, S. K. (2021). Gaps in the care of open fractures: An Indian scenario. Indian Journal of Orthopaedics, 56(2), 280–288.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8789999/
[5] Coombs, J., Billow, D., Cereijo, C., Patterson, B., & Pinney, S. (2022). Current concept review: Risk factors for infection following open fractures. Orthopedic Research and Reviews, 14, 383–391. https://doi.org/10.2147/ORR.S384845
[6] Press Information Bureau, Government of India. (2021, February 11). National Programme for Prevention and Management of Burn Injuries. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1689680
[7] Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (n.d.). National Programme for Prevention and Management of Burn Injuries. https://dghs.mohfw.gov.in/national-burn.php
[8] Jha, M. (2025, February 10). Rising breast cancer in India: Challenges and opportunities. Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/rising-breast-cancer-in-india-challenges-and-opportunities
[9] Doval, D.C., Radhakrishna, S., Tripathi, R. et al. A multi-institutional real world data study from India of 3453 non-metastatic breast cancer patients undergoing upfront surgery. Sci Rep 10, 5886 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62618-3
[10] Sarkar P, Huffman KN, Williams T, et al. Rates of breast reconstruction uptake and attitudes toward breast cancer and survivorship among south asians: A literature review. J Surg Oncol. 2024; 129: 953-964. doi:10.1002/jso.27584
[11] Pillai, R.N., Alex, A., M.S., N. et al. Economic burden of breast cancer in India, 2000–2021 and forecast to 2030. Sci Rep 15, 1323 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83896-1
Author Bio – Dr Premnath Venugopalan is Co-founder and Chair at Serigen Mediproducts. He holds a PhD from MIT USA and is a trained chemical engineer from IIT-Bombay (Distinguished Alumnus, 2022), along with being a Chevening Technology Enterprise Scholar in Cambridge, UK. He is also Head, NCL Innovations at CSIR-NCL and Founder Director at Venture Center.
India faces a staggering burden of tissue regeneration needs for applications like complex wounds, bone trauma and breast reconstruction. At Serigen, we’re not just building medical solutions, we are providing better outcomes for millions of patients. From diabetic foot ulcers to complex fractures, our mission is clear: make healing accessible and effective for even the most difficult clinical problems. Here’s a data-driven look at the immense scope of the challenge, and how Serigen is uniquely positioned to meet it.
1. Diabetic Wounds: A Growing Epidemic
India has the second-highest number of diabetic patients globally—74.9 million in the 20–79 age group as of 2021, projected to grow to 124.9 million by 2045 [1].
Studies estimate that 15–25% of diabetics in India develop diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) during their lifetime [2][3].
That means nearly 16 million Indians may be living with slow-healing, infection-prone diabetic wounds—that adversely impact the patient’s quality of life, often leading to amputation if left untreated. Serigen’s advanced wound dressing, SERIDERM®, is clinically proven to accelerate the healing of chronic, slow-healing wounds such as diabetic ulcers – delivering faster recovery backed by real-world results. Explore clinical case reports demonstrating SERIDERM®’s impact on advanced wound care here.
2. The Orthopedic Burden: Over 4.5 Million Open Fractures a Year
India sees more than 4.5 million open fractures every year [4]—a staggering number driven by road traffic accidents, falls, and industrial injuries.
Open fractures are among the most complex bone trauma cases, often requiring surgical intervention and significant time to heal. Moreover, the risk of infection and non-union remains high, especially in resource-limited settings [5].
In such scenarios, our flagship product SERIOSS®, an osteoconductive bone void filler powered by silk protein, offers 2x better bone healing outcomes than existing alternatives and minimizes surgical complications – as observed in clinical studies. We are proud to be the world’s first company to successfully conduct a clinical trial using silk for bone repair, with good new bone formation in all patients and no complaints from patients/surgeons.
3. Burn Injuries: 6 to 7 Million Cases Annually
India faces an estimated 6–7 million burn injuries per year [6][7]. Despite the scale of the problem, access to advanced burn care remains limited, especially outside metro cities. Many patients require advanced wound care to support healing and prevent infection.
Serigen’s advanced wound dressings offer expedited healing and infection control for first and second-degree burn cases, potentially improving healing outcomes for millions in India alone.
4. Breast Reconstruction: A Vital Yet Underused Procedure
In 2023, 221,579 cases of breast cancer were reported in India [8]. Most women (approx. 78.7%) undergo mastectomy as part of treatment [9]. However, the reconstruction rate post-mastectomy still remains low—just 4% according to one major study [10]. This translates to ~7,500–10,000 breast reconstructions performed each year in India. With the breast cancer incidence expected to rise by 50,000 new cases annually at a 5.6% growth rate [9], the need for reconstruction support and awareness around the same is only growing.
In an advanced economy like the USA, the breast reconstruction procedure is adopted by ~50% of mastectomy patients. It is expected that in India too, many more mastectomy patients will adopt breast reconstruction procedures in coming years.
Serigen is supporting this trend by making breast reconstruction safer and more effective with SERIMAT®, a biocompatible soft tissue regeneration matrix for superior breast tissue reconstruction. SERIMAT® can potentially help restore normalcy and confidence to thousands of women after breast cancer surgery in India alone.
Our Singular Purpose: Helping Millions in Need of Better Healing
Behind these statistics are human lives—millions of patients waiting for better outcomes. Serigen is proud to be part of the solution, bringing innovative tissue engineering solutions to the forefront of Indian healthcare.
By grounding our science in empathy and evidence, we’re not only treating clinical problems—we’re helping patients rebuild their lives. We are proud to be trusted by leading hospitals and clinicians across India, and remain committed to expanding our reach, to improve healing outcomes for patients in every corner of the country.
References
[1] Maiti, S., Akhtar, S., Upadhyay, A. K., & Mohanty, S. K. (2023). Socioeconomic inequality in awareness, treatment and control of diabetes among adults in India: Evidence from National Family Health Survey of India (NFHS), 2019–2021. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 2971. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29978-y
[2] Ghosh, P., & Valia, R. (2017). Burden of diabetic foot ulcers in India: Evidence landscape from published literature. Value in Health, 20(9), A485. https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(17)30823-9/fulltext
[3] Rodrigues, J., Reshamarani, P., & Frazer, J. (2023). A clinicopathological study on management of diabetic foot ulcer in tertiary care centre. The Foot, 54, 101971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foot.2023.101971
[4] Jindal, R., Dhillon, M., Mittal, N., Aggarwal, A., Malhotra, A., & Garg, S. K. (2021). Gaps in the care of open fractures: An Indian scenario. Indian Journal of Orthopaedics, 56(2), 280–288.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8789999/
[5] Coombs, J., Billow, D., Cereijo, C., Patterson, B., & Pinney, S. (2022). Current concept review: Risk factors for infection following open fractures. Orthopedic Research and Reviews, 14, 383–391. https://doi.org/10.2147/ORR.S384845
[6] Press Information Bureau, Government of India. (2021, February 11). National Programme for Prevention and Management of Burn Injuries. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1689680
[7] Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (n.d.). National Programme for Prevention and Management of Burn Injuries. https://dghs.mohfw.gov.in/national-burn.php
[8] Jha, M. (2025, February 10). Rising breast cancer in India: Challenges and opportunities. Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/rising-breast-cancer-in-india-challenges-and-opportunities
[9] Doval, D.C., Radhakrishna, S., Tripathi, R. et al. A multi-institutional real world data study from India of 3453 non-metastatic breast cancer patients undergoing upfront surgery. Sci Rep 10, 5886 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62618-3
[10] Sarkar P, Huffman KN, Williams T, et al. Rates of breast reconstruction uptake and attitudes toward breast cancer and survivorship among south asians: A literature review. J Surg Oncol. 2024; 129: 953-964. doi:10.1002/jso.27584
[11] Pillai, R.N., Alex, A., M.S., N. et al. Economic burden of breast cancer in India, 2000–2021 and forecast to 2030. Sci Rep 15, 1323 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83896-1
Author Bio – Dr Premnath Venugopalan is Co-founder and Chair at Serigen Mediproducts. He holds a PhD from MIT USA and is a trained chemical engineer from IIT-Bombay (Distinguished Alumnus, 2022), along with being a Chevening Technology Enterprise Scholar in Cambridge, UK. He is also Head, NCL Innovations at CSIR-NCL and Founder Director at Venture Center.
