THR-184 is an agonist of BMP signaling and a potent antagonist of TGFβ signaling. This small peptide mimetic inhibits inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis and reverses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by regulating multiple signaling pathways involved in the cellular injury of multiple organs. Its effects have been shown to control Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). THR-184 has progressed through phase I and II clinical trials to prevent cardiovascular surgery (CVS) associated with AKI. This work provides a roadmap for developing other growth factor mimetics and demonstrates how we might harness their therapeutic potential.
Carlson WD, Keck PC, Bosukonda D, Carlson FR Jr. A Process for the Design and Development of Novel Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 (BMP-7) Mimetics With an Example: THR-184. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jul 8;13:864509.