A Breakthrough Discovery in Tendinopathy Treatment: the World’s First Injectable Fatty Acidbinding Protein 4 Inhibitor-loaded Hydrogel

Overview

The BMS309403-loaded GelMA hydrogel is a groundbreaking, minimally invasive therapy for tendinopathy, a degenerative condition causing long-term pain and disability. Our team discovered upregulated fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) that drives inflammation. This innovative hydrogel targets FABP4, interrupting the pain cycle and promoting healing, significantly reducing injection frequency and drug dosage, offering hope for millions affected.

Commercialisation opportunities

technology licensing agreement

Problem addressed

Tendinopathy, a degenerative condition causing long-term pain and disability.

Innovation

We uncovered a previously unknown fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) upregulation that fuels the destructive cycle of inflammation and pain in tendinopathy.
We developed the injectable BMS309403-loaded GelMA hydrogel that specifically targets and inhibits the overactive FABP4 responsible for triggering inflammation and erroneous differentiation of tendon stem cells. This breakthrough interrupts the vicious cycle that perpetuates tendon pain and promotes tissue regeneration.
The sustained release of BMS309403 in tendons through our GelMA hydrogel significantly reduces injection frequency and drug dosage.

Key impact

Reduction of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: Reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, supporting the self-renewal of inflammatory tendon stem cells.
Enhanced Healing and Pain Relief: Redirects inflammatory tendon stem cells towards tenocyte lineage, promotes natural tendon healing, and alleviates pain.
Minimally Invasive and Efficient: Provides an effective minimally invasive therapy with improved retention of FABP4 inhibitor, enabling slow release and reducing injection frequency.

Award

Silver Medal, International Exhibition of Inventons Geneva 2024
Gold Medal, Silicon Valley International Inventions Festival 2024

Application

Treatment of degenerative tendon injuries due to overuse and aging

Patent

Filing of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): WO 2025/012697 A1

Website

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a forward-looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. CUHK teachers and students hail from all around the world. Four Nobel laureates are associated with the university, and it is the only tertiary institution in Hong Kong with recipients of the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Fields Medal and Veblen Prize sitting as faculty in residence. CUHK graduates are connected worldwide through an extensive alumni network. CUHK undertakes a wide range of research programmes in many subject areas, and strives to provide scope for all academic staff to undertake consultancy and collaborative projects with industry.

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