# TT-036 for the treatment of scleroderma-associated pulmonary fibrosis

> **NIH NIH R41** · THENDOR THERAPEUTICS LLC · 2024 · $389,754

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Fibroproliferative illnesses leading to organ fibrosis and failure are responsible for approximately 45% of deaths
in developed countries. Whether idiopathic, triggered by environmental factors, infections, or genetics, organ
fibrosis results in significant morbidity and mortality. Organ fibrosis is responsible for health care costs exceeding
$10 billion/year. It is estimated that the number of deaths due to fibrosis is double the number of deaths due to
cancer, and that organ fibrosis results in significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Specifically, lung
fibrosis can be idiopathic, associated with connective tissue diseases such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), or
triggered by environmental and occupational exposures such as radiotherapy. Lung involvement is currently the
leading cause of death of patients with SSc. There are currently no effective therapies to treat existing lung
fibrosis as recently approved drugs merely reduce disease progression and result in significant side effects.
Thus, the only curative option for patients is organ transplantation, which is impossible at the scale needed. We
have identified a peptide derived from collagen XVIII which exerts anti-fibrotic effects in murine and human pre-
clinical models of lung fibrosis. The beneficial effects include reducing fibrosis in lung tissues of patients with
pulmonary fibrosis who underwent lung transplantation and thus have end-stage severe fibrosis, an effect not
seen with other drugs that are approved or being evaluated for these illnesses. We propose to assess the
therapeutic potential of the peptide in vivo in a murine model of lung fibrosis. We also propose to identify the
minimal effective dose and optimal dosing frequency and conduct pilot toxicity, pharmacokinetic, and
biodistribution analyses. Successful completion of this project will support our long-term goal of translating our
findings to the clinic and providing patients with pulmonary fibrosis with an effective therapy. Identifying a peptide
effective at reducing fibrosis represents a critical unmet need. Our approach is also likely to have broad impact
and relevance for fibrosis in different organs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11006098
- **Project number:** 1R41HL176277-01
- **Recipient organization:** THENDOR THERAPEUTICS LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Carol A. Feghali-Bostwick
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $389,754
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-05 → 2025-09-04

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11006098

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11006098, TT-036 for the treatment of scleroderma-associated pulmonary fibrosis (1R41HL176277-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11006098. Licensed CC0.

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