safety and efficacy of becaplermin gel in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

Peter Blume,1 Melinda Bowlby,2 Brian M Schmidt,2 Ryan Donegan2 1Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, and Anesthesia, Yale School of Medicine, 2Section of Podiatric Surgery, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA Abstract: Becaplermin gel remains the only US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved growth factor for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers. Becaplermin gel has shown to be efficacious in a number of clinical trials. The FDA has added a black box warning label about the risk of cancer associated with the use of three or more Becaplermin tubes. Other adverse drug reactions associated with Becaplermin gel use are minimal. There is a need for further research regarding the true correlation between cancer and Becaplermin gel use. Keywords: diabetic, ulcer, wound care, advanced biologic therapy