Cresilon's Life-Saving Gel Aims to Redefine Emergency Trauma Care

NEW YORK, NY – March 12, 2026 – A novel, plant-based hydrogel designed to stop severe bleeding in seconds is capturing the attention of the global trauma community. Cresilon, a Brooklyn-based biotechnology firm, announced that its groundbreaking product, TRAUMAGEL®, will be the subject of a clinical case series presentation at the prestigious 2026 Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Global Symposium in Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend.

The presentation at a conference hosted by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma marks a significant milestone for the company. It provides a platform to showcase the real-world efficacy of TRAUMAGEL to an influential audience of trauma surgeons, clinicians, and emergency response leaders who set the standards for life-saving care worldwide.

The Science of Seconds: A New Approach to Hemorrhage Control

Uncontrolled hemorrhage remains a leading cause of preventable death in trauma victims. For decades, first responders have relied on methods like direct pressure, tourniquets, and wound packing with gauze. While effective to a degree, these techniques have limitations, especially with complex wounds or in chaotic prehospital environments.

TRAUMAGEL represents a fundamental shift in approach. The technology is not a gauze or a powder but a flowable, plant-based hydrogel that comes in a pre-filled syringe for easy application. Composed of a proprietary combination of polysaccharides, the gel works by creating an instant mechanical barrier over the bleeding source. It adheres directly to the wound tissue, conforming to irregular shapes common in traumatic injuries like gunshot or stab wounds, and stops blood flow within seconds without requiring the sustained, heavy pressure needed for traditional packing.

This unique mechanism offers several advantages. Its flowable nature allows it to reach deep into a wound cavity, and its rapid action can significantly reduce on-scene time and minimize life-threatening blood loss. Furthermore, unlike some hemostatic agents that can be difficult to remove, Cresilon states that TRAUMAGEL can be easily irrigated from the wound with saline at the hospital, allowing surgeons to work without disturbing the body's natural clot.

From Lab to Lifesaver: A Strategic Path to Market

Cresilon's journey from a research concept to a commercially available medical device has been marked by strategic milestones. The company secured a critical U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for TRAUMAGEL in August 2024, officially clearing it for temporary external use in controlling moderate to severe bleeding. This made it the first gel-based hemostatic agent to receive such clearance in the United States.

This followed an earlier FDA clearance in 2023 for a similar product, Cresilon Hemostatic Gel (CHG), intended for more minor cuts and abrasions. With the clearance for severe bleeding, the company moved swiftly. After a strategic rollout in select U.S. cities, Cresilon launched TRAUMAGEL nationwide in January 2025, making it available to EMS agencies, first responders, and trauma centers across the country.

The company's vision extends beyond civilian emergency care. Cresilon is also engaged in a cooperative research agreement with the U.S. Defense Department's Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). This collaboration is exploring the gel's potential to mitigate brain hemorrhage and provide neuroprotection following penetrating traumatic brain injuries, a critical concern for military personnel in combat zones.

Challenging a Competitive Landscape

The market for hemostatic agents is a competitive, multi-billion dollar industry dominated by established medical device giants like Ethicon (a Johnson & Johnson company) and Baxter. These companies offer a range of products, from oxidized cellulose fabrics like SURGICEL to flowable matrices like Floseal, which are staples in operating rooms.

However, Cresilon is carving out a distinct niche, particularly in the prehospital and emergency settings. While many legacy products were designed primarily for the controlled environment of a surgical suite, TRAUMAGEL was developed with the chaos of an emergency scene in mind. Its speed, ease of application via syringe, and lack of a need for sustained pressure are key differentiators that appeal to paramedics and first responders who must act quickly with limited resources. Its plant-based composition also sets it apart from biologically-derived products, potentially simplifying storage and handling requirements.

Early Reports from the Field Signal Promise

Since its nationwide launch, anecdotal reports from the field have been highly encouraging. Trauma professionals have noted the gel's impressive performance in a variety of real-world scenarios. One trauma program manager at a Level 1 trauma center praised its reliability and speed, particularly in a challenging case involving a patient on blood thinners with a severe head wound, where the gel effectively controlled the bleeding.

Other first responders have reported that it is faster and easier to deploy than traditional wound packing and less traumatic for the patient than a tourniquet for certain types of extremity injuries. One case described its successful use in a patient with a gunshot wound to the neck, where the rapid hemorrhage control was critical in preventing a compromised airway. The presentation at the ATLS symposium, titled "Prehospital Hemorrhage Control Using a Novel Flowable Gel: An Initial Case Series With Traumagel," is expected to provide the first formal clinical data substantiating this early field experience.

As Cresilon representatives prepare to present their findings to this global audience of experts, the event signifies more than just a scientific discussion. It represents a critical step in validating a technology that could soon become a standard tool in every first responder's kit, fundamentally changing the odds for trauma victims in the critical moments between injury and definitive care.