- Exosome treatment researcher Exopharm (EX1) has found its Cevaris product to prove promising in treating erectile dysfunction
- Exosomes are small sacs created by cells which can deliver therapies to other cells
- The company wants to use exosomes to deliver stem cell therapies without the usual hassle
- Based on early non-clinical testing, the Cevaris product produced strong results in treating ED
- After some more tests, Exopharm said it will consider moving the product on to human clinical trials
- Shares in the company gained 1.72 per cent today, closing worth 29.5 cents each
Exosome specialist Exopharm (EX1) has reported some strong results for its Cevaris product in treating erectile dysfunction (ED).
Cevaris is one of Exopharm’s two core products, with Plexaris being the other. Both products are based on exosome treatment, which the company is developing as an alternative to stem cell treatment.
Essentially, exosomes are small fluid-filled sacs naturally created by many different types of cells. As put by Exopharm, these exosomes can deliver therapeutic “cargoes” from cell-to-cell to reduce inflammation and help cells repair and regenerate. According to Exopharm, the number of exosomes in a human body decline with age.
Exopharm’s goal is to use exosomes to deliver targeted drugs to cells in need. The company says the exosomes produced by stem cells could be used to deliver the same benefit as stem cell therapy but without the risks.
While Exopharm said these little cell creations have the potential to treat a range of medical conditions, the focus of its latest test showed “very positive” results for treating ED — a condition common among middle-aged and older men that becomes more prevalent with age.
Exopharm CEO Dr Ian Dixon said the testing was done by the company’s independent commercial test group, PELVIPHARM, in France.
“What’s most exciting for us is that Cevaris offers new hope for men who have tissue damage that prevents other medicines from working. Exopharm seeks to provide patients with new treatment alternatives,” Dr Ian said.
ED can be caused by prostate and rectal surgery, Exopharm said, which often leads to localised tissue damage that stops other treatments from working at all. This is where Cevaris comes in.
The testing of the product against a control treatment showed all the right signs to get things up and running in patients.
The testing, however, was non-clinical, but Exopharm said the results provide a basis to take testing further. Pending more test results, the company will move on to human clinical trials.
Company Chief Commercial Officer Dr Chris Baldwin said Exopharm is busy translating exosome science into real-life applications and results.
“We expect this to open collaboration opportunities for Exopharm with pharmaceutical companies around the world,” Dr Chris said.
With the testing still in early days, however, it might be a long journey for the company to prepare a product portfolio to enter the competitive pharmaceutical market.
Shares in the company gained 1.72 per cent today, closing worth 29.5 cents each at market close.