Viromed said Wednesday that it has conducted a study to confirm that VM202 promotes peripheral nerve regeneration by activating repair Schwann cells

VM202 is a plasmid DNA-based gene therapy drug containing hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) genes.

According to the company, this was the first study to describe the role and functioning of HGF in the process of regenerating peripheral nerves after neuronal injury. It noted the research has scientifically proved that VM202 is a new therapeutic agent for peripheral neuropathy.

“When we injected VM202, it induced the production of various nerve regeneration factors and promoted Schwann cell division and migration,” the company said. “This ultimately increased the diameter of the nerve axon and the thickness of the myelin aqueduct.”

In the case of nerve injury, the study found a significant increase in HGF protein and its receptor, c-met, in the vicinity of the damaged area. It also saw the precise location where HGF protein and c-met happened.

“This research described how HGF restores injured peripheral nerves,” Viromed CSO Kim Sun-young said. “The result clarified the underlying principle that VM202 can induce long-term pain relief and how it acts as regenerative medicine.”

The results of the study were published in Scientific Reports, an international medical journal.

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