The San Diego-based Trestle Biotherapeutics has formed a strategic research collaboration with Humacyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: HUMA), a commercial-stage biotechnology company, to explore technology synergies for bioengineering vascularized organs for transplantation. This partnership brings together Trestle's expertise in bioengineered kidney tissues and Humacyte's FDA-approved acellular tissue engineered vessel technology.
Under the research collaboration and material transfer agreement, the companies will investigate potential avenues of technology integration, specifically exploring the interaction between Trestle Bio's biofabricated human kidney tissues and Humacyte's acellular tissue engineered vessel-tyod (ATEV™). The ultimate goal is to generate a human bioengineered kidney with vascular perfusion.
Addressing the Global Kidney Disease Crisis
The collaboration addresses a significant global health challenge. More than 800 million patients worldwide suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD). In the United States alone, approximately 600,000 patients depend on dialysis for survival, with 125,000 new diagnoses of kidney failure each year. While kidney transplantation remains the only definitive treatment option for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the persistent organ shortage results in just 25,000 successful transplants annually, despite approximately 100,000 patients on the transplant waiting list.
Trestle Bio is developing an implantable bioengineered kidney tissue specifically for patients with ESRD. Once implanted, these stem cell-based tissues are designed to provide sufficient renal function to potentially free patients from dialysis dependence and delay the need for organ transplantation. The company views this technology as the foundation for future transplantable bioengineered organs to address the global organ shortage.
Combining Complementary Technologies
Humacyte brings significant expertise and credibility to the partnership, having recently received FDA approval for ATEV™ for use in adults as a vascular conduit for extremity arterial injury when urgent revascularization is needed and autologous vein grafting isn't feasible.
Laura Niklason, M.D., Ph.D., Humacyte Founder and CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: "Trestle is doing cutting edge work in a field that desperately needs innovation and risk-taking. We are excited to explore ways in which our teams can work together to catalyze the development of new solutions for addressing kidney failure."
Ben Shepherd, Ph.D., Trestle Bio's co-founder and CEO, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership: "We have been following Humacyte closely for some time now and I think it's fair to say that they are really the gold standard for developing an FDA-approved regenerative medicine product. We've been highly focused on developing our kidney stem cell biology and biofabrication programs, and this is a natural progression for us. The broad application of Humacyte's ATEV technology to treat kidney disease patients is clear, and we're excited to collaborate with Humacyte to start bringing these engineering concepts to life."
Technological Foundations and Future Directions
Trestle Biotherapeutics, a preclinical stage company, is focused on developing bioengineered tissues for patients with ESRD. Their approach uses stem cell-derived tissues that could potentially reduce dialysis dependence and eventually serve as replacement organs.
Humacyte has established itself as a leader in the field of bioengineered human tissues. The company develops and manufactures acellular tissues to treat various diseases, injuries, and chronic conditions. Their portfolio of acellular tissue engineered vessels (ATEVs) is currently in late-stage clinical trials targeting multiple vascular applications, including vascular trauma repair, arteriovenous access for hemodialysis, and peripheral artery disease.
The collaboration represents a significant step forward in the field of regenerative medicine, potentially offering new hope to millions of patients suffering from kidney disease worldwide. By combining Trestle's expertise in kidney tissue bioengineering with Humacyte's established vascular technology, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of functional bioengineered kidneys that could address the critical shortage of donor organs and transform treatment options for patients with end-stage renal disease.
