Collagenase SANTYL® Ointment advances pressure ulcers through the healing process faster, new study suggests

LONDON, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Smith & Nephew (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN), the global medical technology business, welcomes the publication of a new research paper showing how pressure ulcers, when treated with Collagenase SANTYL Ointment, achieve faster rates of granulation and epithelialization when compared against medicinal honey treatment. Granulation is the process in which new connective tissue and capillaries form around the edges of a wound while epithelialization is the regrowth of skin over an open wound.

In a retrospective study of 787 patients, those who received SANTYL treatment on 1034 pressure ulcers were 38% more likely to achieve 100% granulation, and 47% more likely to achieve epithelialization at one year when compared to medicinal honey treatment.

In addition, those patients treated with SANTYL had significantly fewer hospital outpatient visits (9.1 "vs." 12.6; p<0.001), fewer total selective sharp debridements (2.7 "vs." 4.4; p<0.001), and fewer pressure ulcers requiring NPWT (29% "vs.' 38%; p=0.002). 

The retrospective database analysis was conducted on deidentified hospital outpatient wound clinic electronic health records from 2007 to 2013 extracted from the US Wound Registry, and published in the journal Advances in Wound Care.  Gilligan, A.M., et al. Comparative effectiveness of Clostridial Collagenase Ointment to medicinal honey for treatment of pressure ulcers. Volume 6, Number 4 (April 2017).

Collagenase SANTYL Ointment is the only FDA-approved enzymatic debrider. SANTYL actively and selectively removes necrotic tissue without harming granulation tissue. SANTYL is indicated for debriding chronic dermal ulcers and severely burned areas. SANTYL is a topical biologic agent that has a unique mechanism of action and has been shown in other studies to help reduce the overall cost of treating chronic wounds. Use of SANTYL should be terminated when debridement of necrotic tissue is complete and granulation tissue is established. SANTYL is supported by years of multiple clinical trials that have underscored its efficacy. These clinical studies support the use of SANTYL Ointment as a first-line debridement both in between weekly sharp debridements and as a stand-alone product.

"This research adds to the body of knowledge of the effectiveness of SANTYL in a myriad of topical interventions available to wound management clinicians," said Cathy Milne, APRN, MSN, BC, CWOCN of Connecticut Clinical Nursing Associates. "Gilligan's work underscores the importance of granulation and epithelialization in advancing pressure ulcers through the healing process."           

"Pressure ulcers are a significant burden to patients and the healthcare system," said Andy Weymann, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Smith & Nephew. "We are committed to reduce the financial and emotional costs of living with pressure ulcers and this new research, using real-world, electronic health record data, demonstrates SANTYL is the better choice for helping patients with pressure ulcers."

About Smith & Nephew
Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping healthcare professionals improve people's lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma & Extremities, Smith & Nephew has around 15,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Annual sales in 2015 were more than $4.6 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN).

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit our website www.smith-nephew.com, follow @SmithNephewplc on Twitter or visit SmithNephewplc on Facebook.com.

Forward-looking Statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith & Nephew, these factors include: economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting health care providers, payers and customers; price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls or other problems with quality management systems or failure to comply with related regulations; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; disruption to our supply chain or operations or those of our suppliers; competition for qualified personnel; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, our success in performing due diligence, valuing and integrating acquired businesses; disruption that may result from transactions or other changes we make in our business plans or organisation to adapt to market developments; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or reputational nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors. Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith & Nephew's expectations.

©2017 Smith & Nephew, All rights reserved.
SANTYL is a registered trademark of Smith & Nephew.

SOURCE Smith & Nephew