Treating chronic wounds remains a growing clinical and economic challenge in the U.S., particularly among older patients with comorbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Delays in diagnosis and treatment are common, often resulting in prolonged healing times, increased complications, and higher healthcare costs. Evidence suggests that initiating effective wound care interventions as early as possible is critical to accelerating healing and improving overall patient outcomes.

Recent real-world analyses demonstrate that early use of enzymatic debridement with clostridium collagenase, the active enzyme in Collagenase SANTYL Ointment, helps advance the wound environment toward healing. A study of more than 15,000 inpatient cases showed that within two weeks of treatment initiation, over 85% of wounds achieved healthy pink granulation tissue across a wide range of wound types, including diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, venous leg ulcers, burns, and trauma-related wounds. Wound size reduction was observed regardless of wound etiology or initial severity, supporting the benefit of early inpatient initiation followed by outpatient continuation.Beyond clinical improvement, early enzymatic debridement has been associated with meaningful cost savings. Research indicates that patients treated earlier with SANTYL Ointment experienced fewer hospital readmissions, reduced use of adjunctive therapies, and lower overall healthcare expenditures. Comparative studies have also shown enzymatic debridement to be more cost-effective than alternative debridement strategies, reinforcing its value as a foundational step in chronic wound management that improves outcomes while reducing the total cost of care.