Physician-initiated first-in-human clinical study using a novel angiogenic peptide, AG30/5C, for patients with severe limb ulcers

Aim: In patients with diabetes or ischemia, angiogenesis and infection control are required for chronic leg ulcers, which substantially impair patients' quality of life. We developed a novel functional peptide, named AG30/5C, with angiogenic and anti-microbial properties. Treatment with AG30/5C significantly accelerated the wound healing of full-thickness defects in mice. To evaluate the safety of AG30/5C in the treatment of leg ulcers, a physician-initiated clinical study was carried out.

Methods: The first-in-human trial was designed as an open-label treatment with AG30/5C (0.1 mg/mL) given twice per day for 11 days, and with a follow-up period of 17 days. The inclusion criteria for severe skin ulcers were: (i) diabetes or critical limb ischemia; (ii) resistance to standard therapy for 1 month; and (iii) detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the skin ulcer.

Results: Four patients were enrolled in this study, and two patients met these criteria. For the evaluation of safety, three adverse effects were reported as possibly related to AG30/5C treatment; however, these adverse effects were not severe and resolved during or after treatment. Thus, there were no safety concerns. In both patients, the size of the ulcer decreased after treatment (44.62% and 10.23% decrease), and further decreased after the follow-up period (73.85% and 10.23% decrease). The former patient was diagnosed as Werner syndrome and the skin ulcer was resistant to standard therapy; however, it was sensitive to AG30/5C treatment.

Conclusions: Topical treatment with AG30/5C for severe leg ulcers was safe, well tolerated and effective. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2150-2156.