Lisata Therapeutics Announces Sponsored Preclinical Research Agreement With University of Cincinnati to Study for Endometriosis Treatment

Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. recently announced it has entered into a sponsored research agreement with the University of Cincinnati to investigate Lisata’s novel cyclic peptide product candidate, certepetide, in combination with bevacizumab (a VEGF inhibitor) in a preclinical animal model for the treatment of endometriosis. Bevacizumab has previously demonstrated efficacy in treating endometriosis; however, the required dosage levels are associated with systemic side effects, limiting its use in otherwise healthy young women. Under the agreement, the University of Cincinnati will conduct the research, while Lisata will provide both funding and certepetide.

“We are pleased to have entered into a strategic scientific partnership with the University of Cincinnati to investigate the potential therapeutic applications of certepetide beyond oncology,” said Kristen K. Buck, MD, Executive Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of Lisata. “Given the selective targeting of endometrial tissue by certepetide due to its interaction with the surface integrin and neuropilin-1 receptors, we believe the combination of certepetide and bevacizumab could potentially offer an effective and targeted treatment for endometriosis.”

“We’re excited to join forces with Lisata to explore the potential of certepetide for endometriosis,” added Katherine Burns, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. “By combining our expertise and resources, we aim to uncover insights that could change the treatment and management of endometriosis.”

Endometriosis, a debilitating condition affecting 6.5 million women in the US alone, occurs when uterine tissue grows outside the uterus and attaches to other organs. This can result in severe pain, infertility, and other reproductive health issues, as well as nausea, depression, and anxiety. Despite its prevalence, endometriosis remains underdiagnosed and misunderstood, with limited treatment options often requiring invasive surgical procedures. Researchers are actively working to better understand its causes and develop innovative therapies, with the goal of improving the lives of those affected by this condition.

Certepetide is an investigational drug designed to selectively activate the C-end rule active transport mechanism in a tissue-specific manner, resulting in systemically co-administered agents more efficiently penetrating and accumulating in the tissue. To date, certepetide has demonstrated favorable safety, tolerability, and clinical activity in completed and ongoing oncology clinical trials designed to demonstrate its ability to enhance the effectiveness of standard-of-care chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, as well as the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy in a variety of solid tumors. Beyond its promising applications in oncology, certepetide’s unique mechanism of action has the potential to be explored in various non-oncology settings. Its ability to selectively target specific tissues could offer new therapeutic possibilities for a range of diseases. Certepetide has been awarded Fast Track designation (US) and Orphan Drug Designation for pancreatic cancer (US and EU), as well as Orphan Drug Designation for glioma, osteosarcoma, and cholangiocarcinoma (US). Additionally, certepetide has received Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for osteosarcoma (US).

Lisata Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and other major diseases. Lisata’s product candidate, certepetide, is an investigational drug designed to activate a novel uptake pathway that allows co-administered or tethered anti-cancer drugs to selectively target and penetrate solid tumors more effectively. Lisata has already established noteworthy commercial and R&D partnerships based on its CendR Platform technology. The company expects to announce numerous milestones during the next 1.5 years and believes that its projected capital will fund operations into early 2026, encompassing anticipated data milestones from its ongoing and planned clinical trials. Learn more about certepetide’s mechanism of action in our short film. For more information, visit www.lisata.com.

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,000 students, 11,000 faculty and staff and 332,000 alumni, UC combines a Top 35 public research university with a physical setting The New York Times calls “the most ambitious campus design program in the country.” With the launch of Next Lives Here, the Cincinnati Innovation District, a $100 million JobsOhio investment, continuing record enrollment, global leadership in cooperative education, a dynamic academic health center and entry into the Big 12 Conference, UC’s momentum has never been stronger. UC’s annual budget tops $1.65 billion and its endowment totals $1.8 billion. Learn more at uc.edu.