Granulox treatment for chronic diabetic foot ulcers now available on prescription in the UK

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Infirst Healthcare’s haemoglobin spray, Granulox, has been added to the UK’s NHS Drug Tariff Part IX, establishing a new Haemoglobin category. Granulox—used for the treatment of chronic wounds—is now available on prescription across the UK.

Granulox is designed to increase levels of oxygen at the wound bed, speeding up the rate of healing in wounds such as venous leg ulcers by 75% compared to standard care, according to a company release.  The treatment has been shown to reduce pain by an average of 68% within two weeks.

Independent clinical studies have shown that, when added to standard care, Granulox could save the NHS an average of £2,330 for every diabetic foot ulcer patient after six months.

Alistair Copley, Wound Care manager, infirst Healthcare says, “The assessment process undertaken by the NHS Prescription Service is in-depth, challenging and rigorous. Treatments that pass this level of scrutiny have to prove both clinical and cost effectiveness.  We are pleased that Granulox has received this recognition and expect to see it being administered across the UK over the coming months.”

The clinical efficacy and cost analysis data have also been reviewed and verified by the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG), part of NHSScotland, which recently published its summary of evidence in support of Granulox. It stated that the addition of Granulox “was found to be more effective and less costly than standard care alone”.

Joanne McCardle, Diabetes Podiatry research fellow, says, “The rising tide of diabetes in the UK is resulting in a corresponding increase in diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcers impact…patients’ quality of life, and are an increasing financial burden on our health services. A significant number of diabetic foot ulcers are non-healing and, despite excellent holistic care, the wound sometimes fails to respond and becomes static. The longer a diabetic foot ulcer is present, the greater the likelihood of lower limb amputation. Lack of oxygen in these wounds is believed to play a significant role in their ‘non-healing’ status. Therefore, a process that enables oxygen to be delivered directly and continuously to the wound bed may have significant implications for the future of wound care. This is where Granulox could have a significant role to play in assisting a wound to move from non-healing to a healing trajectory.”