Collagenase Santyl® is the only FDA-approved collagenase product.

It is indicated for debridement of chronic dermal ulcers, which include pressure ulcers (a.k.a. bed sores), venous ulcers, arterial ulcers, and diabetic foot ulcers. It is also indicated for severely burned areas.

Collagenase acts by supplementing the natural process for removal of non-viable tissue at the wound site - by catalyzing the breakdown of collagen. Non-viable wound tissue has the same 75% proportion of collagen as the rest of skin.

The use of collagenase for treatment of pressure ulcers was specifically mentioned in Clinical Practice Guideline number 15 "Treatment of Pressure Ulcers" prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Health Care Policy and Review (AHCPR) in December 1994.

Collagenase Santyl® is distributed under license from BioSpecifics by Ross Abbott .

Collagenase ointment is sold under various licenses abroad

Estimates of the prevalence of all chronic wounds in the U.S. indicates 6 million patients per year.

The cost for pressure wound treatment is estimated to exceed $1.3 billion per year in the US alone.

The national cost of second and third degree burns exceeds $1 billion with treatment of 2 million patients per year.