Treatment of non-traumatic osteonecrosis with endogenous Mesenchymal stem cells

Although most individuals are aware that osteoporosis is disease of increased bone fragility that results from estrogen deficiency and aging, most are unaware of the high risk and cost of the disorder. It is estimated that close to 30% of the fractures that occur in the United States each year are due to osteoporosis (Schwartz & Kagan 2002). California, with one of the largest over-age-65 populations, is expected to double the fracture rate from 1995 to 2015 (Schwartz & Kagan 2002). Current treatment of osteoporosis is focused on anti-resorptive agents that prevent further bone loss. These agents and are effective in reducing new vertebral fractures but less effective for the prevention of hip fractures, and the duration of use of one anti-resorptive class, the bisphosphonates, is limited due to a concern about weakening of the cortical bone with longterm use. The only bone growing agent that is approved by FDA is the protein, hPTH 1-34, which requires two years of daily injections, is only approved by the FDA for one course of treatment, is only effective in about 60% of treated individuals for reduction of vertebral fractures, and has not been shown to be effective in reducing new hip fractures. This leaves an unmet medical need for an anabolic or agent that stimulates bone formation for millions of elderly Californians that suffer or will suffer from this disease.

We have developed a small molecule, LLP2A-Ale that directs endogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the cells that have the potential to grow bone tissue, to the bone surface to form new bone. We propose a development plan for this small molecule, LLP2A-Ale for the treatment of osteoporosis in both postmenopausal women and men.

Yrs. 1-2: These 2 years will be spent with optimizing the manufacturing and packaging of the small molecule, obtaining information about the efficacy and toxicity in preclinical models, and preparing documents for an FDA meeting when the preclinical studies are completed to provide comment on the proposed Phase I clinical trials.

Yrs. 3-4. We plan perform a Phase I study with two parts. Part I will study postmenopausal women with osteopenia and a fracture risk (3% for hip fracture and 20% for major nonvertebral fractures over the next 10 years). After the initial Phase I study in postmenopausal women we will perform Part 2 and study both postmenopausal women and men with similar inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary endpoint of these studies will be change in biochemical markers of bone turnover (PINP, BSAP, osteocalcin), and secondary endpoints will be bone mineral density of the lumbar spine measured by DXA and trabecular bone volume measured by QCT. The Phase I trials will also include required pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic measures to obtain information about the action of this small molecule and to inform us for Phase II clinical studies in the future.