Pharmacogenomic Analysis of Samples From Subjects in Study RN1004-0082

Injury to the skin results in the physical disruption of the normal cellular architecture and triggers wound healing: a process involving inflammation, cell proliferation and migration, cell recruitment, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix deposition. Growth factors and cytokines released from inflammatory cells dictate the function of those cells present within the wound. There is a clinical need for treatments that accelerate healing, as current therapies in this field are largely based on empirical treatments and are often ineffective or inadequate.Juvidex contains as an active ingredient mannose-6-phosphate (M-6-P), a naturally occurring low molecular weight monosaccharide. The proposed mechanism of action for Juvidex is antagonistic and involves inhibiting the activation of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2. Juvidex is being developed by Renovo as a therapeutic agent administered to accelerate the healing of acute wounds.

Technological advances in genetics are providing scientists with the tools necessary to investigate the relationships between genetic variation and unmanipulated and drug-influenced wound healing outcomes such as the speed of healing. Determining the link between genetic variation and drug response (pharmacogenomics) is becoming an increasingly important part of drug development. For example, Iressa, which antagonises the tyrosine kinase activity of the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) only works in people that have a specific variation (or polymorphism) in the DNA sequence of the EGFR gene. For Renovo, comparing the genetic make-up - (genotypes) - of subjects who respond well and those who respond poorly to a treatment, as well as those who naturally heal faster or whose wounds heal more slowly, may help to better define the most appropriate group of patients in which to target a given treatment. An additional benefit of exploring genotypes in well-defined patient populations will be to help to improve our understanding of the underlying biology of wound healing and provide new targets for drug discovery and development.

Pharmacogenomics may ultimately lead to improved treatment of wound healing by using more effective drugs and safer prescribing regimes. In order to realise these benefits we need to be able to collect samples for genotyping analysis from the associated clinical trial. Renovo wishes to examine the DNA sequence of patients enrolled into its clinical studies in order to examine the variation in patients capacity to heal wounds. This study will analyse samples from subjects participating in clinical study RN1004-0082, a double blind, placebo controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of two concentrations of Juvidex in accelerating the healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites using different dosing regimes.