Much has been made of the recent skyrocketing of Medicare spending on skin substitutes, but a new enforcement action by the U.S. Department of Justice might help to explain some of those spending increases.

Shares of Cosmo Pharmaceuticals NV rose sharply on Dec. 3 following top-line pivotal phase III data showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in male androgenetic alopecia patients receiving clascoterone 5%, the first topical androgen receptor inhibitor, which uses the same active ingredient as the company’s acne treatment, Winlevi.

Solventum Corp. continued its restructuring with a second significant acquisition this year, the proposed purchase of privately held Acera Surgical Inc. for $725 million in cash plus up to $125 in contingent cash payments based on achievement of specified milestones. St. Louis.-based Acera projected that its synthetic wound care products will bring in $90 million in sales this year.

South Korean researchers led by Lee In-suk of Yonsei University have reported the most complete oral microbiome catalog to date, with more than 72,000 genomes. Detailed in Cell Host & Microbe on Nov. 12, 2025, the database is expected to serve as a universal platform for academia and enable “precision microbiome medicine” for the industry, Lee told BioWorld.

The U.S. Office of Inspector General posted an analysis of Medicare spending on skin substitutes, remarking that the data suggest a disproportionate use of these products for patients enrolled in fee-for-service (FFS) care.

Regenerative medicine company Avita Medical Inc. raised AU$23 million (US$15 million) through a private placement on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:AVH) to support growth of its Recell therapeutic acute wound portfolio. Funds raised will support continued growth of the company’s therapeutic acute wound portfolio and will cover operations through 2026.

Shanghai Moyom Biotechnology Co. Ltd. has launched its Aphranel Magiccrystal dermal filler, the first injectable calcium hydroxylapatite microsphere-based dermal filler developed in China, and the company is already expanding globally.

Plasmacure B.V. secured €6 million (US$7 million) in series A funding for its Plasoma cold plasma system to treat complex wounds. The round was led by Venture Medical LLC, a U.S.-based provider of solutions for wound care, which also committed to spend over $10 million to support regulatory approval, reimbursement and U.S. market expansion of the Plasoma technology.

Tetratherix Ltd. raised AU$45 million (US$25 million) in its IPO on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TTX) to support clinical development of its Tetramatrix polymer biomaterial platform to support bone regeneration, tissue spacing and tissue healing.

Researchers from the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York (SUNY), filed for protection of their development of a new imaging technology that uses radar and AI to see through dressings to monitor wounds and other skin conditions.