Researchers describe TY1 as a novel tissue-healing mechanism and outline plans to push TY1 into human clinical trials to assess safety and efficacy.

Next steps involve initiating clinical trials to evaluate TY1’s safety and effectiveness in humans.

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai have developed TY1, an experimental RNA-based drug aimed at repairing DNA and promoting tissue healing, with potential to address heart attack damage and inflammatory diseases.

TY1 is a synthetic RNA molecule that enhances the TREX1 gene, helping immune cells clear damaged DNA to drive tissue repair.

The work builds on two decades of research into heart progenitor cells and exosomes carrying therapeutic RNA messages, with TY1 representing a first-in-exomer drug.

The concept traces two decades of progress: isolating heart progenitor cells and discovering that these cells release exosomes containing therapeutic RNA messages that can promote regeneration.

TY1 is described as a first-in-class exomer, a new drug category addressing tissue damage through a mechanism distinct from traditional stem cell therapies.

Preclinical tests in animals showed TY1 promotes healing after heart injuries, supporting its potential use for autoimmune and other tissue-damaging conditions.

The candidate works by mimicking structures of approved RNA therapies and increases immune activity to reverse DNA damage, potentially reducing scar tissue after a heart attack.

The findings are published in Science Translational Medicine, authored by Eduardo Márban and colleagues from Cedars-Sinai and partner institutions.