We know diabetic foot ulcers are a huge problem, and a host of medgadgets (1,2,3) has arisen in an attempt to solve this pesky problem.
Now, enter the Cubans, who claim to have developed the world’s best approach to advanced diabetic ulcers, a new drug called CITOPROT-P.
We’ve scoured the web for more info on this mysterious contender, finding some occasional press releases but scant peer-reviewed literature:
In Cuba , the prevalence of diabetes is around 3% of the total population and 3 000 patients may suffer amputations if CITOPROT-P® were not available. At the present, products in the market are only restricted to prescriptions for neuropathic foot ulcers.
CITOPROT-P® is the result of more than 10 years of research at the CIGB and two well designed clinical trials performed in Cuba . After preclinical results showing that CITOPROT-P® stimulates granulation and epithelization, and reduces surgical treatment, thus limiting more invasive surgery due to relapses, the CIGB and the National Institute of Angiology and Vascular Surgery performed the first clinical trial with CITOPROT-P® in 29 type-II diabetic patients with micro and/or macro angiophathy. As a first result, 55% of patients were saved from amputations. Then, a Phase II clinical trial was conducted in 41 patients and the results were even better: more than 80% patients were saved from amputations.
CITOPROT-P® is the result of more than 10 years of research at the CIGB and two well designed clinical trials performed in Cuba . After preclinical results showing that CITOPROT-P® stimulates granulation and epithelization, and reduces surgical treatment, thus limiting more invasive surgery due to relapses, the CIGB and the National Institute of Angiology and Vascular Surgery performed the first clinical trial with CITOPROT-P® in 29 type-II diabetic patients with micro and/or macro angiophathy. As a first result, 55% of patients were saved from amputations. Then, a Phase II clinical trial was conducted in 41 patients and the results were even better: more than 80% patients were saved from amputations. We’re not sure what’s more remarkable, that the Cubans were able to develop this wonder drug in a vacuum, or that only 3% of their population has diabetes. Perhaps both claims are far-fetched — if any readers out there know more, please chime in.
More from the Cuban government’s CIGB site (intermittent access as of this writing)…