Nanotope’s bioactive nanofiber system promotes cartilage regeneration

Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ:ARWR) today announced publication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) of a study using Nanotope’s lead compound for cartilage regeneration. The study’s authors, which include Nanotope co-founder Dr. Samuel Stupp, showed that Nanotope’s bioactive nanofiber system promotes the growth of new cartilage in a rabbit model. The treatment is engineered to repair cartilage defects by working with an animal’s own bone marrow stem cells to stimulate the production of new natural cartilage. This is an area of intense interest for the medical community because of the large number of joint injuries and, unlike bone, damaged cartilage does not naturally grow back in adults.

“We view these results as a significant step forward toward a potentially new and innovative way to treat cartilage injuries in the future”

Nanotope’s proprietary material was used in conjunction with microfracture, an established therapy whereby small holes are made in the bone beneath damaged cartilage in order to create a scar or clot. Nanotope’s nanofiber gel was injected as a liquid into the microfracture holes where it self assembled to form a bioactive scaffolding that promotes the growth and integration of new natural cartilage. The procedure was performed both with and without the use of growth factors, and the study showed that Nanotope’s material performed better than microfracture alone and that it did not require the expensive growth factors for positive results. The scaffolding leveraged the body’s own stem cells and natural growth factor production to promote regeneration.

“We view these results as a significant step forward toward a potentially new and innovative way to treat cartilage injuries in the future,” said Dr. Christopher Anzalone, CEO of Arrowhead. “More broadly, these data provide another important proof of concept for Nanotope’s platform technology for regenerative medicine. With study results published in multiple peer reviewed scientific journals, the platform has demonstrated the ability to regenerate diverse tissues, from spinal cord to cartilage. It is our hope that Nanotope’s technology may someday be used therapeutically to repair a wide range of tissue types damaged by traumatic injury, advanced age, or disease.”

The article, entitled “Supramolecular Design of Self-assembling Nanofibers for Cartilage Regeneration” appeared in the February 2, 2010 issue of PNAS Online.

SOURCE Arrowhead Research Corporation

(www.arrowheadresearch.com)