miR-29

Remlarsen (MRG-201) is designed to mimic the activity of a molecule called miR-29 that decreases the expression of collagen and other proteins that are involved in scar formation. Remlarsen is being studied to determine if it can limit the formation of fibrous scar tissue in certain diseases. The objectives of this study are to investigate the safety and tolerability of remlarsen in subjects with a history of keloid scars, and to investigate the activity of remlarsen in prevention or reduction of keloid formation. Another objective is to study the pharmacokinetics of remlarsen (the movement of a drug into, through and out of the body). A group of 12-16 study volunteers will undergo two small skin biopsies in the upper back/shoulder region that will be closed with sutures. One biopsy site will be injected with up to 6 doses of remlarsen over a period of 2 weeks and the second site will be injected similarly with a placebo solution. Participants will be monitored for keloid formation at the two biopsy sites, for signs or symptoms of adverse effects on the body, and for the levels of remlarsen in the blood over time. A second 2-week cycle of treatment may be administered if there are signs that a keloid may be forming at one or both biopsy sites. Subjects will be followed for about 1 year following their final course of treatment to assess the long-term safety of remlarsen and the potential for later appearance of a keloid scar. Additional groups of subjects may be enrolled to test lower doses of remlarsen or an extended dosing schedule.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the investigational drug, MRG-201, in healthy volunteers. MRG-201 is designed to mimic the activity of a molecule called miR-29 that decreases the expression of collagen and other proteins that are involved in scar formation. MRG-201 is being studied to determine if it can limit the formation of fibrous scar tissue in certain diseases.
MRG-201 will be tested in healthy volunteers by injection into intact skin or adjacent to a short skin incision. Volunteers may receive one or several doses of MRG-201, and will be monitored for local reactions in the skin, signs or symptoms of adverse effects on the body, and for the levels of MRG-201 in the blood over time. Skin biopsies will also be collected to study how cells in the skin respond when exposed to MRG-201.