VEGF for the Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Damage

Background & Unmet Need

• Peripheral nerve injury is a major neurological disorder that can cause severe motor and sensory dysfunction
• Unlike the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is capable of significant regeneration, but often in an incomplete fashion
• Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-B is known as an angiogenic factor, and provides neuroprotection in the CNS, but its affect on the PNS is poorly understood
• Unmet Need: New therapeutics that hasten the regeneration of peripheral nerves with appropriate return of function

Technology Overview

• The Technology: Methods to treat damage to the PNS using VEGF-B alone or in combination with VEGF-A
• Discovery: VEGF can mediate peripheral neuron growth and accelerate the return of sensory and trophic functions of damages nerves
• VEGF-B induces extensive dendrite growth and branching in neurons, which was distinct from VEGF-A
• VEGF-B increases nerve regeneration, sensation recovery, and trophic function of injured corneal peripheral nerves without observed off-target effects
• The combination of VEGF-A and VEGF-B resulted in improved neuro-regeneration compared to monotherapy

Technology Applications

• Therapeutic for PNS damage caused by accident, neurotoxins, or neurodegenerative disease
• Treatment of injured corneal peripheral nerves

Technology Advantages

• Improves function of injured nerves without affecting uninjured nerves or inducing unwanted neovascularization
• May be administered as recombinant VEGF proteins or as gene therapy