Progressive PAD is initially characterized by intermittent claudication and results in chronic pain and ulceration called CLI. CLI patients are at very high risk of amputation and poor physical function, leading to severe morbidity and mortality and should therefore be treated aggressively. The treatment of CLI has evolved over the past few decades to include broad approaches in medical, interventional, and surgical therapy; still, the major amputation rate is 35% to 50% at 1 year.
The goal of our company is a therapy using hiPSC-ECs for treating critical limb ischemia (CLI). CLI is a serious public health issue for which no adequate treatment is available. Given the prevalence and seriousness of CLI, developing a new therapy for this disease is highly significant. This development will explore both autologous and allogeneic approaches. The initial goal is to develop autologous cell therapy. By avoiding immunological reactions, this would be an ideal approach for patients if successful. The product is a platform that can be used for many other diseases requiring a vascular supply for tissue or organ regeneration. The other disease indications include ischemic heart disease, wound healing, cerebrovascular disease, bone disease, and diabetic complications.