Auxagen’s TGF-β receptor antagonists in gel formulation promote wound healing and reduce scarring. 

        Auxagen’s TGF-β receptor antagonist with rationally engineered properties exhibit excellent solubility, high tissue penetration ability and potent TGF-β antagonist activity. They are drug candidates for treating wounds in humans. One of the TGF-β receptor antagonists has been shown to potently prevent injury, accelerates wound healing and reduces scarring in rat cyclophsophamide-induced bladder injury, pig skin partial-thickness and full-thickness burn wound models. These promising results have provided the basis for the ongoing SBIR phase II preclinical studies in the project. We hope the clinical availability of these antagonists will be commercialized by large pharmaceutical/biotech companies, eventually directly benefiting individuals with various types of wounds, particularly chronic wounds.

 Auxagen’s TGF-β receptor antagonists in aerosol formulation ameliorate and reverse lung fibrosis.

        In SBIR Phase I studies, we evaluated the utility of our newly developed TGF-β receptor antagonists in treating pulmonary fibrosis in animals treated with bleomycin or radiation. Animals treated with bleomycin or radiation alone developed lung fibrosis. These animals subsequently treated with Auxagen’s TGF-β receptor antagonist by intranasal administration demonstrated a significant reduction in lung fibrosis. Auxagen’s antagonist has a great potential in preventing the development or retard the progression of fibrosis in multiple lung diseases in humans. A SBIR phase II proposal is to provide pre-clinical assessment of the value of Auxagen’s novel TGF-β receptor antagonist to prevent and treat lung fibrosis in a mouse model and to assess safety in mice and non-rodents, and in human volunteers. The results from these preclinical studies are predicted to provide the basis for clinical trials and commercialization of these novel agents in humans. The clinical availability of such drugs should benefit millions of patients with lung fibrosis worldwide.

 Auxagen’s novel hair-growth and skin-care products

         One of our TGF-β receptor antagonists is a natural small-molecule organic compound. This antagonist in solution and foam formulations has been shown to promote hair growth in animals and human volunteers. Its efficacy and strength in promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss are much more potent than Rogaine^R (minoxidil) in animals and human volunteers. It promotes hair growth by suppressing TGF-β in follicles, which plays an important role in initiating and maintaining the catagen phase in the hair growth cycle. The other natural small-molecule TGF-β antagonist (in lotion formulation) is capable of beautifying human skin by stimulating collagen synthesis in skin cells. This has provided superior cosmetic results in many human volunteers. These products represent a novel hair-growth and skin-care agent.