Alkem Laboratories announces launch of technology for diabetic foot ulcer management by latter half of 2022

Alkem Laboratories Ltd. (Alkem) has announced launch of a unique patented technology for the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) in India by latter half of 2022 post regulatory approval.

This advanced technology for DFU management has a high scope of preventing amputations in diabetic patients. This technology will be available at affordable rates to Indian patients at a time when there is no definitive treatment for DFU in India.

The solution would be based on disruptive 4D Bioprinting technology, which would be used to treat deep, non-healing chronic wounds.

India currently has approximately 77 million diabetes patients, the second-highest in the world. A diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most devastating complications of diabetes and is defined as a foot affected by ulceration that is associated with neuropathy and/or peripheral arterial disease of the lower limb in a patient with diabetes.

Approximately, 12 per cent to 15 per cent with diabetes suffer from DFU at least once in a lifetime and five per cent to 24 per cent of them will finally lead to limb amputation within six months to 18 months after the first evaluation. The risk of foot ulceration and limb amputation increases with age and the duration of diabetes.

Alkem has collaborated with Rokit Healthcare Inc. to commercialise the technology in India to help reduce amputation amongst DFU patients considering the negative impact of amputation on a patient’s quality of life and the associated economic burden on the healthcare system. Sandeep Singh, Managing Director, Alkem Laboratories Ltd., stated “In India, Diabetes is one of the major healthcare challenges. The challenge in itself is so huge that diabetic foot ulcers often get ignored. Approximately 1 lac people have to undergo amputation every year and compromise on their quality of life. To address the problem, Alkem has collaborated with Rokit Healthcare Inc., a global regenerative solutions company, to bring out novel solutions for the management of diabetic foot ulcers.”