Our research into skeletal muscle regeneration is focused on the use of protein-based therapeutics – an emerging class of biologics designed to closely mimic the body’s natural compounds. Unlike traditional small-molecule drugs, these biologics are large, complex molecules that offer highly targeted and potentially more effective treatments.
In 2021, Myostellar Co-founders Prof. Peter Currie and A/Prof. Mikaël Martino released their revolutionary reasearch on the regeneration of muscle stem cells. These findings are the scientific discovery that led to the formation of Myostellar.
A group of genetic diseases that gradually cause the muscles to degenerate, leading progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most frequently occurring and one of the most severe forms of the muscular dystrophies.
Muscular dystrophy is a group of rare, genetic diseases which all cause progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscle.
There are over 30 types of muscular dystrophies, which all vary in incidence, severity, age of onset and progression. All primarily affecting skeletal muscle and many types also affect the heart, lungs and other organs.
Duchenne is the most common and severe of the dystrophies, with onset during early childhood, loss of ambulatory function by young adulthood and an average life expectancy of around 30 years.
The loss of muscle mass which can be caused by a range of factors including aging, disuse, medications, injuries and diseases.
Acute muscle loss is the rapid loss of muscle mass and strength, which can result from diverse causes including injury, surgery, malnutrition and co-morbidities such as diseases and medications.
Loss of skeletal muscle and function impairs systemic function, reduces quality-of-life and increases complications and mortality.
The ability to rapidly regenerate muscle plays a critical role in the recovery from these diseases and conditions.
Satellite cells are muscle stem cells essential for muscle repair and growth. They exist as an inactive reserve cell population for muscle repair and maintenance. When muscle fibre is damaged, they are activated to restore muscle fibre.
Following damage to muscle fibres, satellite cells are activated and undergo asymmetric division where they proliferate and differentiate to both restore muscle fibres and self-renew to maintain the reserve cell population.
Satellite cells can become compromised in their capacity to regenerate muscle in disease and injury settings. By targeting this pathway, we can potentially accelerate the process of muscle repair and regeneration.
