In vitro studies show reductions in key inflammatory and fibrotic markers and signs of pro-regenerative activity
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Animate Biosciences today announces new preclinical results demonstrating that AI-designed peptides generated by its AnimateIQ™ discovery platform significantly reduced hallmark inflammation and fibrosis signals across multiple human cell types including skin, lung, heart and liver.
“Existing therapies target individual organs, but the real opportunity lies in addressing the shared biology of inflammation and fibrosis across the entire body,” said Peter Licari, co-founder and CEO of Animate Biosciences. “Fibrosis is irreversible and cumulative, so halting progression is critical. What we’re seeing now is different cell types from different organs responding to the same peptides and dialing down inflammation and fibrosis. We set out to target pathways common to multiple tissues, and these findings show we’re achieving exactly that.”
Animate’s peptide candidates have demonstrated:
- Reduced α-SMA, a key marker of myofibroblast activation that drives tissue stiffening and scarring, by > 85%.
- Normalized (tempered) collagen levels, including COL1A1, critical for healthy repair yet overproduced in chronic fibrosis.
- Suppressed inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, major contributors to sustained tissue damage and chronic inflammatory disease, by > 80%.
- Showed pro-regenerative signals, including increases in proliferation markers in select cell types, with no observed cytotoxicity.
Chronic inflammation drives ongoing tissue damage across organ systems and typically worsens with age. It is tightly linked to fibrosis, the buildup of scar-like tissue that impairs organ function and contributes to up to 45% of deaths worldwide.1 Today’s available treatments are limited, often poorly tolerated, and slow decline, rather than stopping damage. A therapeutic approach capable of dialing down inflammatory and fibrotic signals across diverse tissues could unlock new ways to treat lung disease, heart failure, chronic skin disorders and liver damage, ultimately protecting organ function longer and extending healthy lifespan.
These in vitro findings support Animate’s ongoing in-vivo studies in lung and dermatology fibrosis models and will guide formulation and delivery strategies for high-need clinical indications. The company is prioritizing programs where patients face limited or poorly tolerated treatment options today, and where therapeutic benefit can be measured clearly and rapidly.
For more information about Animate Biosciences and the belief that inflammation and fibrosis can not only be lowered but prevented, restoring healthy tissue function and improving quality of life for millions, visit animate.bio.
About Animate Biosciences
Animate Biosciences is a biotechnology company developing first-of-its-kind peptide therapeutics to stop inflammatory and fibrotic disease. Powered by its proprietary AnimateIQ™ platform, the company combines breakthroughs in biological data processing, generative AI and rapid peptide synthesis to design novel therapies. By leveraging the untapped biology of nature’s best regenerators, the company aims to transform how inflammation and fibrosis are treated across organ systems, make advanced therapeutics accessible and deliver a future where life-altering or life-ending inflammatory and fibrotic disease is no longer inevitable. For more information, visit animate.bio.
1 Wynn TA. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis. Nature Reviews Immunology 2011;11:738–748.
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