Trial of the Thrombin-Derived Peptide TP508 for Healing a Combined Radiation + Burn Injury
Abstract
This project describes the use of a therapeutic (TP508) that is a naturally occurring piece of a protein (thrombin) that is released to help your body heal damaged blood vessels. TP508 has been shown to accelerate healing of many simple and complex wounds, and our preliminary data show that TP508 can accelerate healing of burn and radiation wounds, too. Predictions regarding upcoming conflicts are that there will be more soldiers injured, and that injuries will be more severe with several traumas sustained by a single person (for example, a thermal burn plus radiation exposure). Loss of air supremacy in conflicts with peer / near peer adversaries coupled with greater numbers of severe casualties will mean that treatments that can be delivered in the prolonged field care environment or en route to care need to be developed. TP508 has the potential to be one of these treatments. The project aligns with the FY21 Military Burn Research Program Idea Development Award Focus Area Complex combat-related burns: Development of therapeutic interventions focused on treatment of burn injury in the polytrauma patient with concomitant pathology including radiation-induced injury, at any point along the continuum of care from point of injury to discharge from a tertiary care burn center. Specifically, we will establish a mouse model of radiation exposure plus contact burn, and then test TP508 for the ability to prevent worsening of the burn wound (conversion) and for making wounds heal faster. As part of this project, we will also prepare for and hold a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine the next step in bringing this drug into use for preventing burn wound conversion and for healing the burn wound in humans who have burns and radiation exposure. Applicability: The proposed project will benefit the military and the general public in several ways. For the injured Service Member who is burned and exposed to non-lethal radiation, administration of TP508 could prevent the injury from getting worse while also making wound healing faster, even while waiting for transport to specialty care needed for these types of injuries. By stopping the injury from getting worse, and potentially reducing the need for surgeries, it is possible that the wounded Service Member could return to duty sooner, without some of the chronic/long-lasting effects of such an injury (contractures/scars, pain, loss of mobility or function, etc.) , resulting in a better quality of life. A single injection of TP508 could be administered (by self, medic, or other team member) during prolonged field care, en route, or even in a role 1 or 2 facility, but sooner is probably best. For military and civilians alike, development of TP508 for use after burns and radiation could reduce the side-effects seen following therapeutic radiation in the more than 85% of cancer patients experiencing skin damage with their radiation treatment. With that number of patients reaching the millions, there could be widespread use of TP508 to reduce the damage to the skin during cancer treatment. An additional use for TP508 could be to stabilize burn wounds following a mass casualty/trauma event that results in burns with radiation exposure. We would anticipate that this could be one of the frontline medications administered to stop the burn/radiation injury from getting worse and to begin the healing process, even while assessment of hundreds to thousands of injured people occurs. To date, TP508 has been given to ~600 patient volunteers without any toxicity or adverse effects. These patients participated in clinical trials for healing diabetic foot ulcers or distal radial fracture repair. Additionally, TP508 is being tested as a first-in-class drug that can be used as a countermeasure for reducing the severity of acute radiation syndrome and preventing death following a nuclear event. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2210409
Entities
People
- Celeste Finnerty
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Texas Medical Branch