Tampere University Fusion-Protein Drug Advances Toward Clinical Trials for Epidermolysis Bullosa

Tampere University says a drug candidate developed at the university by researcher Tero Järvinen, who was named the university’s Inventor of the Year 2025, has been licensed to Theravia (acquired by Norgine) and is moving toward clinical development.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare hereditary skin disorder in which minor mechanical stress causes painful blisters, chronic ulcers and, in the most severe cases, early death.

The recombinant fusion protein links decorin, an anti-scarring therapeutic, to a short peptide that guides the molecule through the bloodstream to diseased tissue. In preclinical tests, the drug reduced inflammation and scarring. It also slowed cancer progression and extended survival in animals with lethal EB.

"The drug molecule we developed prevents inflammation and reduces scarring and cancer progression," Järvinen said. The team created a patented screening method to identify macrocyclic peptides that home to target organs; the university holds two patents and Järvinen lists eight international patents. Though the molecule has received orphan and paediatric orphan designations from the FDA and EMA, he cautioned that years of clinical trials and commercial work remain before a finished medicine reaches patients.