Researchers Report that Thymosin B4 has a Major Role in Dermal Burn Wound Healing
ROCKVILLE, Md., May 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: RGRX) ("the Company" or "RegeneRx") today announced that an independent team of researchers from South Korea have reported that Thymosin B4 (TB4) plays an important role in accelerating the repair of second-degree dermal burn wounds, induced in an experimental mouse model, by promoting blood vessel formation and causing rapid vascular remodeling of damaged dermal tissue. The research found that the underlying mechanism of action is via actin cytoskeletal remodeling and the action of heat-shock proteins, which are induced when tissues or cells are exposed to stress. Heat shock proteins function to allow other proteins to assume their correct structures. The research also confirmed that remodeling of F-actin was regulated by TB4 by demonstrating its healing effects in the in vivo model.
"These results show an additional new potential application for TB4 and provide a greater understanding of its effects in dermal wound healing and specifically in the healing of dermal burns. Since the skin is the primary immune organ, understanding impaired immune function resulting from severe dermal burns, and the ability to successfully treat the affected area, is important knowledge necessary to adequately address this unfortunate injury, which can cause prolonged hospitalization, increase the risk of amputation, and lead to death due to infection and organ failure," stated Dr. Allan L. Goldstein, Emeritus Professor and Former Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. Dr. Goldstein is also RegeneRx's chairman and chief scientific advisor.
The research was conducted by Sokho Kim and Jungkee Kwon, Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine Chonbuk National University, Republic of Korea. It was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Korean government, and published in the Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2015 Apr 28. doi:10.1002/term.2028.
About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.regenerx.com)
RegeneRx is focused on the development of a novel therapeutic peptide, Thymosin beta 4, for tissue and organ protection, repair and regeneration. RegeneRx currently has three drug candidates in clinical development for ophthalmic, cardiac and dermal indications, three active strategic licensing agreements in China, Pan Asia (Korea, Japan, and Australia, among others) and the U.S. RGN-259, the Company's TB4-based ophthalmic drug candidate, has been designated an orphan drug for the treatment of neurotrophic keratopathy (NK), which is a primary focus of RegeneRx's clinical development efforts in the U.S through its joint venture, ReGenTree. RegeneRx was recently allowed by the FDA to move into phase 3 clinical trials with RGN-259 for the treatment of patients with NK. RGN-352, the Company's TB4-based injectable drug candidate, is a phase 2-ready drug candidate designed to be administered systemically to prevent and restore tissue damage associated with acute events such as heart attacks, strokes, and other similar injuries. RGN-137, the Company's TB4-based dermal gel, is in phase 2 clinical development. For additional information about RegeneRx please visit www.regenerx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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SOURCE RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
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