Exosome-based biologic treatment for tendinopathy
Official title: Exosome drug for tendinopathy
Funded at New York/r&d/ctr/translational Med/ther · NIH-11395416 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new exosome-based therapy called Altenex aims to treat tendinopathy safely and effectively in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York/r&d/ctr/translational Med/ther NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Rochelle, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $719,580 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AG084503-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395416 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with tendinopathy who may be candidates for biologic therapy.
✕Less likely to help
People with tendon conditions outside the scope of tendinopathy or those seeking non-biologic treatments may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing a biologic medicine made from exosomes derived from stem cells grown on a 3D scaffold to treat painful tendon disease. The team plans scalable production and characterization to ensure quality and safety before potential human use. If successful, the approach could offer a disease-modifying option where none currently exists and potentially reduce symptoms and tendon damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with tendinopathy could have a new treatment that targets disease processes and improves pain and function.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work in animal models shows exosomes can influence tendon healing, suggesting potential for translation to humans, though clinical data are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
New York/r&d/ctr/translational Med/ther
New Rochelle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fung, David T — New York/r&d/ctr/translational Med/ther
- Study coordinator: Fung, David T
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized Achilles tendon rehab: how loading in daily life affects healing
A person with mid-substance Achilles tendinopathy could benefit from a personalized rehab plan based on how their daily activities load the tendon.
-
Achilles Tendinopathy Center of Translation
A center-led program aims to uncover basic science and translational tools to improve care for people with Achilles tendinopathy.
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Understanding the muscle-subtendon units in Achilles tendinopathy
This project explores why Achilles tendinopathy affects people differently by looking closely at the ankle’s tendon structure and how it responds to treatments.
-
Quantifying Achilles Tendon Stress in Dancers to Prevent Tendinopathy
Aimed at female ballet dancers, this project will measure Achilles tendon stress during dance and develop better tools to monitor pain and guide injury prevention and recovery.
-
Role of CaV1.2 calcium channels in Achilles tendinopathy
This grant explores how a calcium channel called CaV1.2 may drive tendinopathy in the Achilles tendon and what this could mean for new treatments.
-
Patient-specific factors that influence recovery from rotator cuff tendinopathy
Aims to understand why some people recover better from shoulder tendon problems than others and how to tailor resistance exercise to each person.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.