A large-scale, real-world analysis of 15,639 patients treated with Collagenase SANTYL◊ Ointment underscores the clinical and economic benefits of early enzymatic debridement in wound management. Using NetHealth registry data from 2020–2023, the retrospective study, led by Boxuan Li, PhD, and colleagues, demonstrates that initiating SANTYL therapy early can accelerate wound repair, improve closure rates, and potentially reduce reliance on costly adjunctive therapies.

Key findings

Rapid wound bed improvement

Healthy granulation tissue is a critical indicator of a wound progressing toward healing. According to the analysis, more than 85% of the wounds treated with SANTYL◊ Ointment achieved pink granulation tissue that covered at least two-thirds of the wound area within two weeks of initiation. This rapid improvement was observed across a range of wound types, including pressure ulcers (PUs), diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), venous leg ulcers (VLUs), burns, and trauma wounds.

Significant early wound size reduction

Accelerated wound progression was also evident in size reduction. By week two, wounds decreased in size by 16–28%, and by week four, reductions reached 33–43%. By the end of treatment, wound size had decreased by more than 50% across most size categories, with smaller wounds (<20 cm²) showing a median reduction of 97.62%.

Higher closure rates

Across all wound types, 62% of wounds reached complete closure by the end of treatment. Outcomes were notably better in younger patients, with 70.2% of wounds healed in those under 65 compared to 56.7% in patients over 65 (p<0.001). These findings reinforce the value of early intervention and suggest that age-related healing challenges can be partially mitigated with effective first-line therapy.

Optimizing adjunctive therapies

The study also provides insight into how SANTYL◊ Ointment may reduce reliance on adjunctive wound care interventions.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT): Use varied by wound type, averaging three weeks for DFUs and VLUs, seven weeks for trauma wounds, and up to seven weeks for pressure ulcers.
Skin substitutes: When SANTYL◊ Ointment was used alongside a skin substitute, patients required a median of three applications, compared with four or more applications reported in real-world DFU benchmarks.

By supporting the formation of healthy granulation tissue, SANTYL◊ Ointment appears to prepare the wound bed for secondary therapies sooner, which can improve their effectiveness and reduce the overall number of applications needed. This efficiency can translate into meaningful cost savings for payers, providers, and facilities.

First-line use changes the trajectory

Collagenase SANTYL◊ Ointment is the only FDA-approved enzymatic debrider indicated for debriding BOTH chronic dermal ulcers and severely burned areas. SANTYL Ointment selectively removes necrotic tissue while sparing healthy tissue. Beyond debridement, research shows that collagenase and its by-products promote a favorable inflammatory response, support extracellular matrix remodeling, and generate peptides that stimulate tissue repair.

Delaying the use of SANTYL◊ Ointment may increase overall cost of care and worsen clinical outcomes, the study notes. Although SANTYL◊ Ointment is most often used in outpatient settings, starting therapy during inpatient stays (average length of stay in the U.S. is two weeks) could help drive earlier progress and better outcomes post-discharge.

Putting the data to work in wound care

Effective wound care strategies are central to improving patient outcomes and easing the overall burden of care. This analysis reinforces that early use of Collagenase SANTYL◊ Ointment can play a pivotal role in driving faster tissue repair, achieving higher closure rates, and supporting more efficient wound management.

_{Important Safety Information:}

_{Indications: Collagenase SANTYL Ointment (“SANTYL”) is indicated for debriding chronic dermal ulcers and severely burned areas.}

_{Contraindications: SANTYL is contraindicated in patients who have shown local or systemic hypersensitivity to collagenase.}

_{Warnings and Precautions: The optimal pH range of collagenase is 6 to 8. Higher or lower pH conditions will decrease the enzyme’s activity and appropriate precautions should be taken. The enzymatic activity is also adversely affected by certain detergents, and heavy metal ions such as mercury and silver which are used in some antiseptics. As such, the wound should be properly cleansed prior to application of SANTYL.}

_{Debilitated patients should be closely monitored for systemic bacterial infections because of the theoretical possibility that debriding enzymes may increase the risk of bacteremia. A slight transient erythema has been noted occasionally in the surrounding tissue, particularly when SANTYL was not confined to the wound. SANTYL is not indicated for wound closure. Discontinue use of SANTYL after granulation tissue is wellestablished.}

_{Adverse Reactions: No allergic sensitivity or toxic reactions have been noted in clinical use when used as directed. The risk information provided herein is not comprehensive. To see the complete Prescribing Information, please see the FDA-approved product labeling, here: https://www.santyl.com/pdf/SANTYLPI.pdf. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.}

The post The value of early intervention with Collagenase SANTYL Ointment appeared first on Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.