Texas Patent of the Month – December 2022
After skin and other tissues are damaged, the body responds with some degree of fibrosis, leading to the formation of scar tissue. A typical healing process produces physiologic scar tissue which has a rich matrix of collagen type I. In some cases, the body experiences a dysregulated tissue formation and a pathologic scar forms instead. This scar type often has a greater cosmetic disfigurement and brings about pain, heat intolerance and even a reduced range of motion. ZZ Biotech, LLC, a biopharmaceutical company based in Texas, has developed a treatment for this type of abnormal scarring.
Traditional treatment methods have seen the use of corticosteroids, which may cause pigmentation and pain, or interferon therapy, which causes fevers and headaches. ZZ Biotech’s solution works to minimize the likelihood of pathologic scar formation as well as to treat it once it’s begun.
Based on current research, it seems this scar type is the result of the persistent expression of TGF receptors which are associated with protraction of wound repair. Without reducing the activity of these receptors, the body continues to produce the fibrous tissue and creates a pathologic scar. ZZ Biotech’s solution inhibits a skin cell’s expression of TGF-βI, preventing it from beginning or continuing to produce this scar type. Combining activated protein C (APC) in the treatment induces TGF-β3 production simultaneously enables the body to minimize the appearance of pathologic scars. This combination treatment ensures the wound healing process is not limited while preventing the cosmetic and physical discomfort associated with scars.
ZZ Biotech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company advancing new treatments for some of the biggest unmet needs in stroke, neurodegenerative disease and chronic wound healing. The company focuses on the use of APC for human therapeutic use, with clinical studies surrounding treatment of acute ischemic stroke, wound healing, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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