# Fibronectin matrix mimetic, Chimectin as a first-in-class therapeutic for chronic wound healing

> **NIH NIH R43** · EDI THERAPEUTICS LLC · 2024 · $388,193

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Chronic wounds have become a `silent epidemic' with health complications ranging from serious
infections to limb amputations to death. In the U.S. alone, annual health care costs for treating
chronic wounds are conservatively estimated at $32 billion. Treatment approaches for chronic
wounds include surgical debridement, moist dressings, engineered skin substitutes, compression
therapy, negative pressure therapy, skin grafts, and recombinant growth factors. Yet, none of
these approaches has proven to be an efficient and effective therapy. Tissue repair occurs
through a series of events mediated through interactions between various cell types and
extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Fibronectin fibrils are a principal component of the wound
ECM and play a key role in tissue formation. The Hocking lab has developed a series of soluble,
recombinant fragments of fibronectin, termed “fibronectin matrix mimetics”, that “mimic” the
structural and functional properties of insoluble fibronectin fibrils. Fibronectin matrix mimetics
promote cell adhesion, proliferation, migration and contractility, modulate extracellular matrix
composition, and induce local vasodilation - all of which contribute to effective tissue regeneration.
Topical application of fibronectin matrix mimetics to full-thickness dermal wounds in diabetic mice
accelerates epithelial maturation, and promotes granulation tissue deposition, remodeling, and
re-vascularization. Thus, a primary target of the fibronectin matrix mimetics is chronic diabetic
wounds. The goals of this project are to (i) fully characterize tissue responses to one of the
fibronectin matrix mimetics, FNIII1H,8,10 (“Chimectin”) in genetically diabetic male and female
mice, and (ii) test Chimectin's efficacy in a diabetic porcine dermal wound model. Results from
these studies will lay the groundwork to advance Chimectin to clinical trials to test its ability to
stimulate wound healing in diabetic patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10917587
- **Project number:** 1R43DK138579-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** EDI THERAPEUTICS LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Martin Graham
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $388,193
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10917587

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10917587, Fibronectin matrix mimetic, Chimectin as a first-in-class therapeutic for chronic wound healing (1R43DK138579-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10917587. Licensed CC0.

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