Efficacy of Cadexomer Iodine in the Treatment of Chronic Ulcers: A Randomized, Multicenter, Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Due to being hard to heal, chronic ulcers account for high morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the safety and efficacy of 2 formulations of cadexomer iodine and standard care for the treatment of chronic ulcers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized, open-label clinical trial was conducted at 8 cities across 15 institutions in India from March 2016 to March 2017. After screening a total of 145 patients with chronic, recalcitrant ulcers, 124 were randomized to 1 of 3 treatments: 0.9% cadexomer iodine ointment plus standard care (n = 41), 0.9% cadexomer iodine powder plus standard care (n = 43), and standard care alone (n = 40). All patients completed the maximum treatment period of 12 weeks, with the exception of 8 who discontinued during the study period. At the end of the treatment period, endpoints were assessed.

RESULTS: The percentage of reduction in ulcer size from baseline to the primary endpoint of 12 weeks was significantly higher with both formulations of cadexomer iodine ointment (94.3% ± 10.6%) and powder (90.4% ± 14.9%) as compared with standard care alone (67.8% ± 21.8%). The percentage of patients with complete wound healing at the end of the 12 weeks was significantly higher in patients treated with both formulations of cadexomer iodine ointment (65.8%) and powder (58.1%) as compared with standard care alone (20.0%).

CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that cadexomer iodine, in comparison with standard care alone, increases the percentage of reduction in ulcer size and promotes complete wound healing in chronic ulcers.