# Photodynamic Therapy to Prevent Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation Failure

> **NIH NIH R41** · ADGERO BIOPHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS, INC. · 2020 · $225,000

## Abstract

Project Summary - Photodynamic Therapy to Prevent Arterio-Venous Fistula Maturation
Failure: An Unmet Clinical Need
Establishing and maintaining arteriovenous (AV) access sites is critical for patients on
hemodialysis. The most preferred AV access is the forearm fistula which is now used for the
majority of hemodialysis patients. However, a common problem with AV fistulas is primary
maturation failure, i.e. following surgical placement, their fistulas do not become viable for dialysis
without additional percutaneous or surgical interventions and some never become viable. This
failure can lead to increased morbidity from prolonged use of central venous catheters and results
in a large financial cost to the health care system. This is particularly frustrating because it is well
established that a mature fistula provides the hemodialysis patient with the most effective means
of AV access. While the exact mechanisms of maturation failure are not fully understood, it is
generally accepted that post-surgical neointimal hyperplasia and inadequate venous remodeling
play key roles and preventing either of these processes should substantially improve AV fistula
outcomes.
This project will investigate the potential for a particular form of photodynamic therapy to improve
fistula maturation rates. Preliminary studies in related cardiovascular models indicate this therapy
could substantially impact the main failure mechanisms involved in fistula maturation failure.
From a commercialization perspective, this therapy also has the advantage that is already under
late stage development in an unrelated disease indication, thus the typical drug development risks
are substantially reduced. The project will be a joint effort between a commercial entity whose
staff has extensive experience in vascular photodynamic therapy and a research partner who is
a leader in AV access preclinical and clinical research.
This Phase I project will focus on validating this therapy in an established preclinical model of AV
fistula maturation failure. If this project is successful, it is envisioned that this technology should
be suitable for initial clinical feasibility studies within the near term.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9918649
- **Project number:** 1R41HL151235-01
- **Recipient organization:** ADGERO BIOPHARMACEUTICALS HOLDINGS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** PRABIR ROY-CHAUDHURY
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $225,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-17 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9918649

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9918649, Photodynamic Therapy to Prevent Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation Failure (1R41HL151235-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9918649. Licensed CC0.

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