The Promise of Nexobrid in Non-Surgical Burn Care, According to ET HealthWorld

In Mumbai, burns have become a major public health issue, particularly affecting low and middle-income countries like India. Over 10,00,000 people in India suffer from moderate to severe burns annually, with causes stemming from factors like illiteracy, poverty, and low safety awareness among the population. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines burns as injuries to the skin or organic tissue primarily caused by heat, radiation, electricity, friction, or chemicals. Thermal and chemical burns are the most common types in India, yet comprehensive data on burn injuries is lacking in the country, posing challenges to effective burn care.

Dr. Sunil Keswani, from the National Burns Centre in Navi Mumbai, introduced Nexobrid, a new product aimed at revolutionizing the treatment of acute burns exceeding a certain percentage in both children and adults. He emphasized the importance of early intervention in burn care, focusing on the challenges associated with traditional surgical debridement which requires specialized facilities often unavailable in many healthcare centers in India. Nexobrid, a concentrate of proteolytic enzymes, offers a promising alternative to surgical debridement, effectively removing dead tissue from burn wounds without causing complications, thereby enhancing accessibility and safety in burn treatment.

The landscape of burn injuries in India is changing, with fewer cases related to social issues like dowry deaths, and more incidents due to industrial accidents and household mishaps. Dr. Keswani highlighted the shift towards burn injuries among men from the industry and children left unattended due to parental work commitments. He also raised awareness about skin donation being critical for burn treatment, as well as the lack of skin banks and low awareness levels among the population.

To meet the demand for life-saving tissues like skin and cornea, there is a need to promote organ donation and raise awareness about the potential of Nexobrid in transforming burn care in India. Dr. Keswani emphasized the importance of shifting focus towards promoting skin and cornea donation to address the growing demand for these tissues, ultimately improving burn care and patient outcomes.