Practice nurses are being asked for help in finding patients to take part in a new clinical trial on a “spray on skin” treatment for chronic leg ulcers.
The ReCell Spray on Skin system transforms a small skin sample from a patient into a cell suspension that can be immediately sprayed or dripped onto wounds to stimulate healthy new skin growth.
It has been developed by Cambridge-based firm Avita Medical and is designed for use in a wide variety of wound, plastic, reconstructive, burn and cosmetic procedures.
“We are keen to hear from any healthcare practitioners who may have patients that qualify for the trial”
Paul Hayes
Enrolment has commenced to study the clinical benefit of the treatment in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers.
Four UK sites – Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, Leeds General Infirmary, Cardiff University Hospital of Wales, and Bradford Royal Infirmary – and one site in France are collaborating on the trial.
Patients with chronic venous leg ulcers up to 80cm2 large can be evaluated for the opportunity to participate in the trial, which will seek to assess whether there is a higher incidence of healing in ReCell-treated ulcers.
The study will assess differences in pain, frequency of dressing changes and healing progress for patients in two groups. One group will have standard compression therapy alone while a second group will have standard compression therapy and also ReCell treatment.
Paul Hayes, a vascular surgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, said: “Many clinicians will encounter patients who present with chronic, static, difficult-to-heal wounds resulting in significant daily challenges and expensive clinical management.
“We are keen to hear from any healthcare practitioners who may have patients that qualify for the trial.”
For more information, contact the nearest participating centre:
- Addenbrookes Hospital: paul.hayes@addenbrookes.nhs.uk or naail.alzuhir@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
- Leeds General Infirmary: davidrussell1@nhs.net
- Bradford Royal Infirmary: Kevin.Mercer@bthft.nhs.uk
In April, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published draft guidance on the device for us in the treatment of acute burns.
NICE said it showed promise, but there was not currently enough evidence from its use in practice to warrant a recommendation for its routine use.
It has provisionally recommended that research be carried out to address uncertainties about the device’s clinical and cost benefits, while also identifying which patients might gain most from its use in the NHS.
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