Innovo Therapeutics Inc. Reports Phase 2 Results Showing INV-001's Effectiveness for Post-thyroidectomy Scars

Innovo Therapeutics Inc., headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, announced the promising results of their Phase 2 clinical trial on August 21, 2024. The trial evaluated the effectiveness of INV-001, a new treatment for scar suppression, involving 77 Korean patients who had undergone thyroidectomy surgery and had wounds larger than 3 cm. The study included four general hospitals, notably Severance Hospital in Seoul. Participants were randomly assigned to apply INV-001 twice daily for 12 weeks, with their progress evaluated at the end of the trial using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS).

The clinical trial demonstrated the safety and tolerability of INV-001 in both low (0.2%) and high (2%) doses, with no serious adverse events reported. For patients treated with the high dose of INV-001 for 12 weeks, there was a statistically significant reduction in scar formation (p<0.05, ANCOVA), with a reported 24.5% decrease in scar severity compared to the placebo group.

Professor Won-Jae Lee, the Coordinating Investigator and a renowned plastic surgeon at Yonsei University Severance Hospital, emphasized the significance of this trial as the first globally to confirm the scar reduction effects of HSP47 inhibition. He highlighted the promising results of INV-001 in reducing scars, underscoring the potential clinical importance of developing a specialized topical medication for scar treatment, a need currently unmet in the medical field.

Dr. Hee Dong Park, the founder and CEO of Innovo Therapeutics, echoed this sentiment, stating that the trial validated both the safety and efficacy of INV-001. He pointed out the innovative mechanism of the drug, which promises substantial benefits for patients requiring scar treatment, positioning INV-001 as a valuable addition to the market.

INV-001 functions by inhibiting HSP47, a crucial protein involved in collagen formation, transport, and secretion, which are key processes in scar formation. Preclinical studies using animal models have shown that INV-001 effectively prevents trauma-induced scars without hindering wound healing.

Innovo Therapeutics Inc. is a South Korea-based biotechnology company dedicated to developing small molecules for treating metabolic, inflammatory, and cancer diseases. The company leverages its AI platform, DeepZema®, to discover and optimize new drug candidates, furthering its mission to advance medical treatments and provide innovative therapeutic solutions.