HO/03/03, HealOr's lead drug is composed of PKC-modulating agents. As shown in various studies, the protein kinase C (PKC) family of enzymes plays a key role in skin physiology and pathology. HealOr's scientists demonstrated an active involvement of distinct PKC isoforms in the biochemical processes of wound healing and skin regeneration. Based on these discoveries, which were corroborated in numerous animal models, HealOr developed HO/03/03, a topical peptide combination for the treatment of chronic and acute wounds.

HO/03/03 is a combinational drug comprised of PKC modulating agents. HO/03/03 exhibits a synergistic effect on wound healing by accelerating each and every wound healing stage. HO/03/03 promotes epidermal closure by increasing keratinocyte migration across the wound gap thus isolating the wound from external pathogens, decreasing inflammatory burden characteristic of chronic wounds, as well as influencing subsequent stages of healing such as dermal reconstruction and remodeling.

HO/03/03 unfolds numerous benefits for patients and their caregivers alike. It heralds a comprehensive approach to wound healing by affecting multiple healing stages; it is easy to apply; safe to use; and compliant with patient needs.

Currently undergoing clinical trials, HO/03/03 targets the markets of acute and chronic wound healing, including the widespread, unmet medical need associated with diabetes foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers and pressure ulcers, in which unsatisfactory healing poses one of the most serious threats of accompanying complications.

Mechanism of action - HO/03/03 in wound healing - Launch Video click here.

Chronic wounds

In Europe and the US, the prevalence of chronic ulcerated wounds surpasses 8.5 million reported cases. The US Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) allocates $20 billion of its yearly budget to wound care. Various products cater to these orders of magnitude, amounting to an estimated $7 billion global wound care market. Notwithstanding current solutions to chronic wounds, less than half of the wounds are healed. Therefore, novel, efficacious products are much needed.

The most common chronic wounds include :

Diabetic foot ulcers - Non-healing ulcers are one of the severe complications of diabetes patients, and the leading cause of diabetes-associated foot and leg amputations. In the US alone, approximately 3 million diabetes patients develop chronic diabetic ulcers, resulting in over 100,000 amputations a year.

Venous leg ulcers - 3 million individuals suffer from venous leg ulcers in the US alone. Ulceration is caused by the cessation or impairment of venous flow in the lower extremity. Despite of the standard compression dressing therapy, only 50-60% of the venous ulcers heal completely, and the recurrence rate is as high as 70%.

Pressure ulcers - Pressure ulcers develop in bedridden patients who are unable to reposition themselves to off-load weight, such as paralyzed, unconscious, or severely debilitated persons. About 23% of individuals in nursing homes facilities and 11% in acute care suffer from pressure ulcers. 86% of paraplegic patients develop a pressure ulcer.

Acute/post surgery wounds

Surgical site infections (SSI) are the primary cause of morbidity and mortality associated with surgical procedures. 20-40% of surgical patients develop SSI. The cost of a single SSI is estimated at $3000 per day, without considering further hospitalization that increases by 7 days as a result. SSI patients are likely to spend more time in the ICU and are five times more likely to be re-admitted. Also, SSI doubles the surgery-associated mortality incidence.

HO/03/03 reduces the healing time of acute wounds by nearly 50% thereby presenting a promising potential to significantly reduce post surgical wounds complications.

Based on HO/03/03, HealOr's lead drug, HO/06/06 is a formulation of PKC-modulating agents fit for veterinary use. HO/06/06 was adapted for optimal wound healing efficacy of specific types of animal wounds.

Similar to humans , animals also suffer from problems related with wound healing. Horses are prone to different leg injuries including trauma related acute wounds, chronic wounds, itching and allergy related wounds. With regards to horses, limb wounds are characterized by a rise of chronic inflammation, which further inhibits wound repair and promotes the outgrowth of granulation tissue, also known as proud flesh. These wounds are one of the etiologies for chronic wounds in horses, and if not healed, will lead to deterioration of the animals' quality of life.

Current treatment for animals with chronic wounds exhibits only limited success including surgical intervention followed by a complicated series of cleaning and dressing of the wound. . Specifically in horses, HO/06/06 overcomes the pathology associated with "proud flesh" by accelerating the formation of a new epidermis, reducing inflammation, and regulating dermal healing and remodeling.

HealOr and the National Veterinary Hospital at Beit Dagan conducted veterinary field trials of HO/06/06 on chronic and acute wounds in dogs and horses. HO/06/06 was shown to be successful in healing chronic wounds in large animals including horses and dogs. No adverse events were observed. HO/06/06 garnered enthusiastic feedbacks from both veterinarians and horse owners, who successfully witnessed the healing of their animals' most difficult wounds.