Becaplermin, sold under the brand name Regranex, is a cicatrizant, available as a topical gel. Regranex is a human platelet-derived growth factor indicated along with good wound care for the treatment of lower extremity diabetic neuropathic ulcers.[1] It is also known as "platelet-derived growth factor BB".[1]
Medical uses
Becaplermin is used for the treatment of diabeticfoot ulcers.[2] Studies of becaplermin showed that when used with good wound care, complete healing significantly increased and the ulcers healed on average 6 weeks faster.[3] Pharmacoeconomic studies reinforce the cost effectiveness of becaplermin as an adjunct to good wound care.[4]
The amount of becaplermin to be applied will vary depending upon the size of the ulcer area. Becaplermin should be stored in the refrigerator.[1] Analysis of healing human wounds showed that PDGF-BB induces fibroblast proliferation and differentiation and was found to increase healing in patients with decreased healing capacity, such as people living with diabetes. [5]
Contraindications
Becaplermin must not be used at the site of a skin cancer.[6]
A boxed warning has been added to the US FDA prescription label to describe an increase rate of death from cancer when three or more tubes are used.[7]
^Nagai MK, Embil JM (February 2002). "Becaplermin: recombinant platelet derived growth factor, a new treatment for healing diabetic foot ulcers". Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy. 2 (2): 211–8. doi:10.1517/14712598.2.2.211. PMID11849120. S2CID28408255.
^Wieman TJ, Smiell JM, Su Y (May 1998). "Efficacy and safety of a topical gel formulation of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (becaplermin) in patients with chronic neuropathic diabetic ulcers. A phase III randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study". Diabetes Care. 21 (5): 822–7. doi:10.2337/diacare.21.5.822. PMID9589248. S2CID20595962.