Tennessee Patent of the Month – March 2024
The healing of injuries, especially those involving tendons and ligaments, has long been a challenge in both human and veterinary medicine. Traditional methods often result in fibrovascular scar formation, leading to compromised tissue function and increased risk of re-injury. In an effort to bring better healing techniques to the industry, NellOne Therapeutics, Inc. has developed new technology for tissue regeneration.
NellOne is an early stage biopharmaceutical company with their heart focused on regenerative medicine. Their technological developments are aimed at restoring damaged tissue to its pre-injury state through the use of NELL1 peptides. Research suggests that the NELL1 protein has potential in treating damaged tissues as it is involved in numerous biological pathways including inflammation reduction, cell and tissue survival, and cell division.
The recently patented technology uses a vector containing a nucleic acid sequence encoding a NELL1 peptide fragment. This peptide fragment, with at least 95% sequence identity to specific sequences, offers a host of advantages over full-length NELL1 proteins. These advantages include enhanced efficacy in tissue regeneration, promotion of wound healing, easier purification, higher yield, and less aggregate formation. Crucially, the NELL1 peptide fragment lacks the carboxy-terminal 179 amino acid residues, allowing for targeted and efficient healing processes.
The applications of this invention are vast and promising. Pharmaceutical compositions incorporating this vector have the potential to transform the treatment landscape for tendon and ligament injuries in both humans and animals. By promoting the maturation of progenitor cells, enhancing fibroblast migration and proliferation, and accelerating wound healing, this innovation addresses critical limitations in current therapies.
The versatility of this invention extends to its administration methods. Whether locally injected around the injured tissue or incorporated into matrices such as wound dressings, the NELL1 peptide fragment demonstrates remarkable efficacy. In human medicine, this translates to improved outcomes for injuries ranging from Achilles tendon tears to rotator cuff injuries. In veterinary medicine, especially among racehorses and performance animals prone to tendon and ligament injuries, this innovation offers hope for enhanced recovery and reduced euthanasia rates.
The potential for broader applications in tissue regeneration underscores the significance of NellOne Therapeutics’ invention. From skeletal muscle to cartilage, bone, and skin injuries, the NELL1 peptide fragment presents a promising solution for promoting tissue repair across diverse anatomical structures.
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