Tissue Repair
The Tissue Repair research area focuses on surgical and non-surgical treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. Discovery and development efforts include biologics, small molecules and combinations using novel local delivery vehicles for surgical repair of bone, tendon, cartilage and muscle. Additional focus is placed on systemic and locally delivered biologics and small molecules for prevention of acute and chronic muscle atrophy, treatment of tendonitis and for prevention of cartilage damage associated with joint surgery and osteoarthritis. Emerging interests include the combination of stem cells with biologics and the application of tissue repair therapeutics for non-musculoskeletal indications.
Osteoporosis
The Discovery Tissue repair group has a strong expertise in bone, cartilage and tendon biology. Osteoporosis is a major medical condition that often affects post-menopausal women and elderly men. Current drugs inhibit bone-resorption but have only small effects, if any, on building bone. The goal for the next generation of drugs to treat osteoporosis is to develop treatments that increase bone and decrease fracture rates. Wyeth scientists have produced a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that is in clinical development for the treatment of osteoporosis. Our scientists are also actively investigating novel biological pathways that would stimulate the osteo anabolic pathway for bone development and repair, including targets in the wnt pathway.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a major unmet medical need and current treatments help the symptoms but do not treat the disease. Wyeth scientists are examining the pathways involved in cartilage degradation and repair and are identifying key pathologic mechanisms, including aggrecanase (ADAMTS 4 and 5), which can be impacted by therapeutics. From these efforts, a novel, disease-modifying drug has emerged which has recently entered clinical trials in osteoarthritic patients.
Orthobiologics
Bone fractures and tendon tears are common injuries and often treated by surgery. Tissue Repair scientists in the Orthobiologics group have identified new approaches to enhance the repair of these injuries. Recombinant human BMP-2, InfuseÒ developed by Wyeth scientists, is currently on the market for bone fractures and as a bone graft replacement for spinal fusion. rhBMP-2 has also been used for the treatment of devastating battlefield injuries. Less is know about tendon repair but several approaches are currently being investigated by the team.