Could Proteasome Inhibitors Offer a New Option for Pressure Injuries?
Pressure injuries, especially in the sacral area, are a frequent and frustrating challenge, particularly in elderly patients. Standard care focuses on relieving pressure and supporting wound healing, but what happens when those approaches fall short?
In this recent JDD case report, “Successful Treatment of Sacral Pressure Injury with ACU-D1”, the authors describe a stage 2 sacral pressure injury that failed to respond to a month of supportive treatment. However, after applying a 10% ACU-D1 cream—a proteasome inhibitor—the wound fully re-epithelialized within one month, and the patient experienced significant symptom relief.
With growing evidence that inflammation and neutrophil activation play a role in pressure injury pathogenesis, this report points to a potentially novel treatment pathway. For clinicians managing hard-to-heal pressure injuries or chronic wounds, ACU-D1 may be worth watching as further research develops.
Check out the full article below!
Full article citation: Huang C, Arbiser JL. Successful treatment of sacral pressure injury with ACU-D1. J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;24(5):534-535. doi:10.36849/JDD.8782
