Exogenus Therapeutics Launches Secretome Arthritis Project
The European-funded consortium aims to develop a new disease-modifying therapy for osteoarthritis.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Arthritis
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Exogenus Therapeutics has launched the ExoCordOA project to develop a novel secretome-based therapy for osteoarthritis. The initiative is supported by €13 million in funding from Horizon Europe.
Why it matters
The project seeks to address the significant unmet medical need for disease-modifying osteoarthritis treatments. Currently, there are no approved therapies that can modify the disease course for the approximately 8% of the global population affected.
The five-year project is backed by a €13 million grant from Horizon Europe to develop the candidate drug EXO-101, which is derived from umbilical cord blood cells. The consortium consists of ten organizations working to establish regulatory pathways.
The players
Exogenus Therapeutics
Exogenus Therapeutics is a biotechnology company serving as the project lead for the development of secretome-based therapeutic solutions.
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the European Union's key research and innovation funding program that provided the €13 million grant for this project.
The details
The project consortium combines expertise in biotechnology, clinical development, manufacturing, and medical imaging to overcome current quality-control and regulatory barriers. Researchers aim to advance the drug candidate through clinical validation, with a focus on creating standardized analytical methods for secretome-based medicines.
Timeline
The ExoCordOA project officially launched on October 29, 2026.
The development project is scheduled to span a five-year period.
First-in-human phase 1b clinical trials are expected to start in early 2028.
The Big Picture
The project follows the collaborative research goals established by the Horizon Europe framework, which funds large-scale initiatives to tackle major unmet health needs. This effort marks a specific attempt to bridge the gap between early-stage regenerative science and clinical application.
This project could eventually provide new treatment options for patients with osteoarthritis who currently lack access to disease-modifying drugs. While the medication is not yet available, the research aims to establish new clinical standards for future therapeutic access.
The takeaway
The development of EXO-101 represents a significant step toward addressing the lack of disease-modifying drugs for millions living with chronic joint degeneration. Future clinical progress will determine if these early-stage secretome therapies can transition from the lab into viable medical treatments.
What happens next
The consortium expects to initiate first-in-human clinical phase 1b studies for the candidate drug EXO-101 in early 2028.
Further reading
For more information on current treatment landscapes, explore the Arthritis section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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Should public funding be prioritized to develop disease-modifying therapies for chronic conditions like osteoarthritis?
