Safety testing of an antibody therapy injected into the spine for spinal cord injury
Official title: Preclinical Toxicology Study of Intrathecal VersaMab-101 for spinal cord injury treatment
Funded at Versapeutics INC · NIH-11193847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Checking whether an antibody medicine given into the spinal canal is safe and could help people with spinal cord injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Versapeutics INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,455,927 |
| NIH project number | 5R44NS127712-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
In future clinical trials, the most likely candidates would be adults with recent (acute), incomplete spinal cord injuries who may still have potential for nerve recovery.
✕Less likely to help
People with long-standing, chronic complete spinal cord transections are less likely to benefit from this therapy.
What this research studies
Researchers are giving an experimental antibody (VersaMab-101) into the spinal canal in laboratory tests to learn how it behaves and whether it causes harm. The work uses preclinical toxicology studies, mainly in animals, to measure side effects, safe dose ranges, and how the drug distributes near the injured spinal cord. The approach aims to reduce molecular signals that block nerve regrowth after injury by targeting the Wnt–Ryk pathway. Results will determine if the treatment is safe enough to move on to human clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help damaged nerves regrow and improve recovery of movement and function after spinal cord injury.
How similar studies have gone: Related strategies blocking the Wnt–Ryk pathway have shown promise in animal studies, but no antibody treatment for spinal cord injury is yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Versapeutics INC
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Miao — Versapeutics INC
- Study coordinator: Sun, Miao
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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.