Injectable hydrogel therapy for osteoarthritis

This technology is an injectable hydrogel therapy that treats osteoarthritis by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling, restoring cartilage structure and function.

Unmet Need: Non-invasive therapy for restoring joint function in osteoarthritis

Current methods to treat osteoarthritis are limited to either invasive surgeries or palliative treatments that don’t address disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, most surgeries attempt to bypass or compensate for lost cartilage rather than replace it, limiting the durability of the intervention and failing to halt disease progression. Thus, there is a need for minimally invasive procedures that attempt to restore cartilage structure and function while targeting the mechanisms that lead to degeneration.

The Technology: Minimally invasive injectable hydrogel therapy for osteoarthritis

This technology is a minimally invasive therapeutic for osteoarthritis that prevents the loss of cartilage function and rescues chondrocyte degeneration caused by excessive Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling. This is accomplished through the delivery of a family of Wnt pathway inhibitors in an injectable, sustained-release hydrogel formulation. Inhibition of the Wnt pathway promotes tissue recovery and restores joint function. Overall, the technology aims to preserve the chondrocyte niche and alleviate symptoms associated with osteoarthritis.

This technology has been validated in vitro in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes and in vivo in a rat osteoarthritis disease model.

Applications:

• Treatment for osteoarthritis
• Alternative to surgical intervention in osteoarthritis, including total joint replacements
• Restoration of tissue integrity in joints and other load-bearing extremities such as the hip, shoulder, hand, foot, etc.
• Research tool for studying Wnt inhibitors for halting osteoarthritis progression
• Therapeutic for related diseases such as osteonecrosis and chondrolysis

Advantages:

• Noninvasive therapeutic
• Targets disease pathogenesis
• Preserves cartilage structure
• Easy to incorporate additional therapeutic compounds into formulation

Lead Inventor:

Mildred Embree, DMD, Ph.D

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

Related Publications:

• Ruscitto A, Chen P, Tosa I, Wang Z, Zhou G, Safina I, et al. “Lgr5-expressing secretory cells form a Wnt inhibitory niche in cartilage critical for chondrocyte identity.” Cell Stem Cell. 2023 Sep 7;30(9):1179-1198.e700287-4)

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU24077, CU24078

• Licensing Contact: Cynthia Lang