Wintherix, LLC announced that WX04554, a potent small molecule activator of the Wnt pathway, has been designated as a lead drug for clinical development in bone healing and repair indications. Pre-clinical studies indicate that this class of small molecules potently activates the Wnt pathway and causes bones to heal and become stronger by forcing stem cells to become bone forming cells called osteoblasts.

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Researchers at the University of Nottingham have invented a new class of materials that can be injected as a low-viscosity fluid into the body that, using body heat as the only trigger, converts into a tough porous material with mechanical properties that mimic human cancellous bone. The mechanism of converting from a liquid to solid is so gentle that the injectable bone can carry living stem cells into the body without compromising their viability.

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Scientists at the University of Southampton believe that they can use a patient’s own skeletal stem cells in the hip joint during bone grafting to encourage more successful regrowth and repair. This new discovery could replace the need for outside bone donors. The grafting technique referred to  is the one used to repair the thigh bone and joint during replacement (known as ‘revision’) hip replacement therapy.

In a two-year study, funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), collaborative study between the University of Southampton and The University of Nottingham, researchers plan to test their theory by taking adult stem cells from bone marrow in combination with an impaction process and polymer scaffolds.

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