# Regenerative peptide therapy to accelerate pressure ulcer healing

> **NIH NIH R43** · ADEPTHERA, LLC · 2024 · $367,577

## Abstract

Abstract
 Adrenomedullin (ADM) and CGRP family peptides play pivotal roles in regulating angiogenesis,
vasculogenesis, and tissue regeneration. Although wild-type ADM and CGRP improve wound healing in a
variety of injury models, they are poor drug candidates for the chronic treatment of different disorders. Our
recent study of super-agonistic ADM analogs, which self-assemble to form liquid nanogels in situ, suggested
these analogs are ideal candidates for mitigating tissue damage and accelerating wound healing in patients
with bed sores or nonhealing pressure ulcers. Notably, the self-assembled analog gel has a 100% loading
capacity and allows localized treatment via its multi-faceted regenerative actions. Ideally, the proposed analog
gel therapy would be administered weekly or biweekly subcutaneously in the wound area to improve local
blood circulation and accelerate wound healing. The Specific Aims of this Phase I study include identifying an
ideal analog gel formulation and dose range that promotes vascular bed circulation but avoids an effect on
systemic hemodynamics in aging diabetic mice (Aim 1). Once the ideal analog gel is identified, we will evaluate
whether the analog gel treatment correlates with enhanced healing functions in aging mice with hindlimb
ischemia injury or pressure-induced skin ulcers. We will also compare the analog gel with PDGF, the only
FDA-approved growth factor for wound care, thereby completing the lead optimization process.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11006211
- **Project number:** 1R43AG090115-01
- **Recipient organization:** ADEPTHERA, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** SHEAU-YU Teddy HSU
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $367,577
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-15 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11006211

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11006211, Regenerative peptide therapy to accelerate pressure ulcer healing (1R43AG090115-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11006211. Licensed CC0.

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