DEBRA Research and Topadur Pharma have announced a collaboration to explore a new treatment approach for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). DEB is one of the more severe forms of EB, characterised by extremely fragile skin and progressive, debilitating complications.
The programme will evaluate Topadur’s clinical-stage compound TOP-N53 together with additional selected small molecules from its proprietary DualTOP platform. The compounds will be investigated in in vitro and in vivo models addressing two major and interconnected challenges in DEB: impaired wound healing and fibrosis.
DEBRA Research is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing research and drug development for epidermolysis bullosa (EB), and Topadur Pharma is a Swiss clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The studies will be conducted in collaboration with the Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Germany, and EB Research Institute GmbH in Salzburg, Austria.
“People living with dystrophic EB face severe complications that extend far beyond chronic wounds,” said Prof. Hubert Trübel, Managing Director of ReadOn Therapeutics, a DEBRA Research spinout. “Through our investment in Topadur, we are supporting the development of locally acting therapies that target several interconnected aspects of the disease. We see this as an important step toward exploring new approaches that go beyond wound management alone.”
EB comprises a group of rare genetic conditions characterised by extremely fragile skin that is prone to blistering and wounds, even from minor friction or trauma. In DEB, mutations in the COL7A1 gene impair collagen VII, resulting in recurrent skin lesions within the dermis.
Repeated cycles of injury and repair can lead to chronic wounds, progressive fibrosis, scarring and severe functional impairment. Despite recent advances in wound treatment, there is still a significant need for therapies addressing these interconnected disease processes.
Matthias Schäfer, CEO of Topadur Pharma, said: “DEBRA Research brings deep expertise in EB and a strong understanding of the needs of people living with this devastating disease. Their support as an investor and partner in this programme is an important endorsement of our approach and underscores the broader potential of our DualTOP platform in indications with significant unmet medical needs.”