Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum for the pharmacological management of Peyronie's disease

Peyronie's disease (PD) is defined as the abnormal accumulation of connective tissue in the tunica albuginea of the penis, and is an ongoing physical and psychological challenge for thousands of Americans. In vitro studies in the 1950s uncovered the potential of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) to disrupt the collagen-containing plaques in PD, and opened the door to more in-depth clinical trials. Results indicated that with multiple dosage cycles followed by plaque modeling, penile curvature can be corrected, on average, in up to 35% of cases, with the majority of patients achieving ≥ 25% improvement in penile curvature. Most studies also indicated an improvement in patient-reported symptoms from the Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire. Adverse events from treatment with CCH included penile bruising, pain and edema, but most were mild to moderate in severity and usually resolved without intervention, suggesting that CCH is an effective and safe treatment for PD.