Evaluation of tissue engineering products for the management of neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers: an interim analysis
Authors: Frykberg R.G. , Cazzell S.M. , Arroyo-Rivera J. , Tallis A. , Reyzelman A.M. , Saba F. , Warren L. , Stouch B.C. , Gilbert T.W. 
Published: July 2016

Objective: The objective of this prospective, multicentre clinical study is to assess the application of MatriStem MicroMatrix (MSMM) and MatriStem Wound Matrix (MSWM) (porcine urinary bladder derived extracellular matrix) compared with Dermagraft (DG) (human fibroblast-derived dermal substitute) for the management of non-healing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Method: A randomised, multicentre study was conducted at thirteen centers throughout the US. It was designed to evaluate the incidence of ulcer closure, rate of ulcer healing, wound characteristics, patient quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and recurrence. Those subjects whose DFUs decreased in size by ≤30% or increased by ≤50% during the standard of care (SOC) phase were randomised into the treatment phase of the study. The study evaluated complete wound closure by eight weeks with weekly device application. A two-week post treatment SOC phase followed the treatment phase for any wounds that did not heal by the end of eight weeks, and wound closure was also evaluated at the end of that period. Ulcer recurrence at 6 months post-treatment was evaluated in the subjects that showed wound healing by the end of the post-treatment SOC phase. Standard adjunctive therapy, including debridement, saline irrigation and foot off-loading, was provided to both arms during the four-week screening period, after which eligible subjects were randomised in a 1:1 ratio, to either the MatriStem (MS) or DG treatment arm. This study was developed to evaluate the hypothesis that the wound outcomes observed after wound management with MS were non-inferior to those of DG after eight weeks. The authors present the planned interim results of this study after one half of the projected enrolment was completed. Results: There were 95 subjects consented and entered into the SOC four-week screening phase of the trial and 56 were randomised into the treatment phase. At the planned interim analysis, there was a significantly lower cost per subject and significant improvement in patient quality of life for the subjects treated with MS compared with those managed with DG. However, there was not a statistically significant difference found during the analysis of the interim data between the two study groups for rate of wound healing or number of subjects with complete wound closure. Conclusion: The data from this interim analysis show that MSMM and MSWM provide results for healing DFUs that are similar to the results obtained for DG at a significant quality of life and economic advantage. Declaration of interest: The opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. T.W. Gilbert is employed as the Chief Science Officer and is a stockholder in ACell, Inc., which commercializes MatriStem Wound Matrix and MicroMatrix. None of the other authors have a conflict of interest to declare.