Cutaneous fibrosis (scarring) affects up to 100 million patients per year as a result of 55 million elective operations and 25 million operations after trauma. Besides concerns of cosmesis, scarring can have significant functional sequelae. Overall, scar prevention strategies for skin are minimally effective. Currently available techniques focus on reducing the appearance of already formed scars (e.g., silicone sheeting, topical ointments, lasers). Other scar reduction strategies that target the scar formation process such as steroids and radiation can have undesirable side effects. With these substantial limitations, there remains a pressing need for the development of alternative therapies for the prevention of cutaneous scarring. Through a sustained, 14-year research effort examining models of fetal wound healing, we have identified fibromodulin (FMOD) as a novel molecule required for fetal scarless skin repair. FMOD protein decreases scarring and improves extracellular matrix (ECM) organization in adult wounds. These findings have been confirmed across multiple mammalian species. As a technological innovation, we have developed a 40 amino acid FMOD peptide sequence, F06-C40, which can undergo rapid and inexpensive production and is similar to the 376 amino acid full FMOD protein in its anti-fibrotic effects. Because porcine skin is the closest animal skin equivalent to that of humans and is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- preferred model for testing wound healing products, we have established the optimal dose and regimen of F06- C40 (F06-C40OPT) that effectively improves gross visual appearance, reduces scar size, and maintains wound tensile in a Yorkshire pig primary wound closure model simulating human scar revision surgery. In addition, we have confirmed that F06-C40OPT has the same effects in a red Duroc pig model simulating human hypertrophic scarring, and we are ready to apply it to Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies. Moreover, we have demonstrated that F06-C40 does not have in vivo adverse local effects in mice, rats, and pigs - notably, up to 50 mg/ml with 0.3 ml was applied for 1.5 cm (10 mg/cm) of wound in the porcine models. Furthermore, we have also proved that no significant systemic toxicity is observed in rats with up to 100 mg/kg F06-C40 [which can be converted to a 16 mg/kg human equivalent dose (HED); for a 60 kg male, this dose can be translated to approximately a 960 mg total dose, enough to treat a 960 cm linear scar. This far exceeds the size of typical scars and the anticipated amount of F06-C40 required for treatment (e.g. 1 mg per every linear cm of scar)]. Thus, we have accomplished all aims proposed in our previous SHIFT-SBIR Phase I award (1 R43 AR064126- 01). The goal of the current SBIR Phase II application is to perform critical IND-enabling studies for first-in-man F06-C40 clinical trials an to allow bench to bedside translation of FMOD peptide-based therapy to prophylactically reduce cutaneous scar formation.

Public Health Relevance

Costs of excessive cutaneous scarring and other wound healing complications approach 3 billion dollars per annum, and up to 100 million patients acquire scars per year. In addition, pathologic scarring (fibrosis) affects numerous organ systems in fatal disease processes including the liver, lung, and kidney. This project seeks to develop an effective, novel peptide-based treatment to reduce scarring and to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from excessive scar formation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II (R44)
Project #
3R44AR064126-03A1S1
Application #
9231771
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Tseng, Hung H
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2017-08-31
Budget Start
2015-09-24
Budget End
2016-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Scarless Laboratories, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
140044533
City
Beverly Hills
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90211
Jiang, Wenlu; Ting, Kang; Lee, Soonchul et al. (2018) Fibromodulin reduces scar size and increases scar tensile strength in normal and excessive-mechanical-loading porcine cutaneous wounds. J Cell Mol Med 22:2510-2513
Zheng, Zhong; James, Aaron W; Li, Chenshuang et al. (2017) Fibromodulin reduces scar formation in adult cutaneous wounds by eliciting a fetal-like phenotype. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2:
Zheng, Zhong; Zhang, Xinli; Dang, Catherine et al. (2016) Fibromodulin Is Essential for Fetal-Type Scarless Cutaneous Wound Healing. Am J Pathol 186:2824-2832
Li, Chen-Shuang; Yang, Pu; Ting, Kang et al. (2016) Fibromodulin reprogrammed cells: A novel cell source for bone regeneration. Biomaterials 83:194-206