Exogenus Therapeutics announces new research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to explore the use of extracellular vesicles as therapeutic tools for regenerative medicine.
A joint investigation by Exogenus and Boehringer Ingelheim’s Research Beyond Borders (RBB) Unit is set to focus on the pre–clinical testing of Exogenus Therapeutics’ lead candidate, Exo–101, in various regenerative medicine indications.
Longevity.Technology: The last couple of decades have shown that umbilical cord blood transplantation can treat various diseases, including haematological malignancies, bone marrow failure and inborn metabolism errors. There is an increasing interest in exploiting cord blood cells for new indications in regenerative therapy, with studies in patients with cerebral palsy and type I diabetes.
Most cells are thought to release extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipid bound vesicles that are secreted into the extracellular space. When EVs are taken up by other cells, they can alter the behaviour of the recipient cell, meaning that being able to replicate and scale EVs with regenerative properties (such as those found in umbilical cord blood cells) could pave the way to new regenerative therapies.
Exo–101 is enriched in EVs secreted by pre–conditioned umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells, which exhibit immunomodulatory and regenerative properties and a safe toxicological profile demonstrated in preclinical studies [1].
Exogenus Therapeutics is an early-stage R&D company dedicated to the development of innovative products using naturally derived extracellular vesicles. Its lead product Exo-101 is an advancement in the field of exosome-based therapeutics, and as a reference for an alternative clinical use for umbilical cord blood. Leveraging on its experience, Exogenus Therapeutics’ mission is to foster a new era of extracellular vesicle-based solutions to solve major healthcare challenges, through internal and collaborative R&D.
Boehringer Ingelheim was first established in Germany in 1885 and is now one of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world. A family-owned company, its key purpose is identifying health challenges of the future and targeting areas of unmet need. Pushing scientific innovation in human pharma and advanced prevention in animal health has seen Boehringer Ingelheim grow to be the second largest animal health business in the world while still driving sustainable healthcare alongside the NHS in the UK.
Joana Correia, CEO of Exogenus Therapeutics, said: “We are delighted to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim in this endeavor, in the hope of unlocking new options for more patients with unmet needs.
“Our previous work with Exo–101 demonstrates a context–dependent multifactorial mechanism of action, which supports its use for the treatment of different diseases.
Exploring natural extracellular vesicles as therapeutic alternatives is an innovative approach that has the potential to change the current paradigm of medicine, by inducing the intrinsic potential for organ regeneration and to accelerate the reach of exosomes to patients in need [2].”
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34564463/
[2] https://www.exogenus-t.com/2022/02/24/collaboration-with-boehringer-ingelheim/
