We have already seen some groundbreaking and novel therapeutic discoveries in the 2023 and 2024 is off to a great start. In February, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first medication to treat severe frostbite. Severe frostbite can cause tissue in the nose, fingers, and toes to die which often times requires amputation. Iloprost, which is marketed as Aurlumyn, provides doctors in the United States a way to help patients avoid these life altering effects of frostbite.
Frostbite is an injury that occurs due to exposure to extreme cold. The cold temperatures and weather conditions cause the tissue temperature to drop. When the temperature of the tissue drops to around zero degrees Celsius, the blood flow to this tissue slows down, causing clots within the blood vessels. This reduces the amount of blood getting to the tissue, and the lack of oxygen over a period of time eventually causes the tissue to die. Once the tissue dies, in most cases, amputation is necessary. This is the reason many people who develop severe frostbite often lose their fingers, toes, or even their nose and ears in some cases. Iloprost is an injection that works as a vasodilator. What this means is that it widens the blood vessels, which increases blood flow, therefore reducing the risk of blood clots. How this works for frostbite is that it can improve blood supply to the affected tissue and salvage the near-dead tissue, eliminating the need for amputation.
Frostbite is relatively uncommon but still affects thousands of people each year. While most people will never experience frostbite, it is a big concern for those who are exposed to the elements such as mountain climbers, people without homes, and people in the military. Iloprost can help to reduce the number of these people in the US that require amputation due to frostbite. Iloprost is already approved as a treatment for frostbite in various countries across Europe and has been preventing amputations due to frostbite for many years. Soon this treatment will be available in the United States and changing the landscape for how frostbite is treated.
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