Science

A world class foundation

Our work builds on more than a decade of world leading research conducted by Prof. Stuart Forbes and his group at the University of Edinburgh, in partnership with Prof. John Campbell at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. Together, the founding team have demonstrated the regenerative potential of macrophages, both in the lab and in the clinic.

Macrophages as regenerative cells

Macrophages are cells that belong to the immune system, and are commonly known for their ability to fight invading pathogens. Studies performed in the last fifteen years have uncovered a new crucial role for macrophages in tissue repair. Macrophages in damaged tissue initially acquire pro-inflammatory functions, helpful for sterilising any wounds. They then clear the excess of dead or dying cells in the tissue, through a process called phagocytosis. Thanks to this process, they are able to change their identity, to become so-called pro-restorative macrophages. Pro-restorative macrophages can digest scar tissue, switch off the inflammatory response, and promote organ repair. Unfortunately, if the damage is prolonged, such as in liver cirrhosis, the macrophages lose their ability to become pro-restorative. Consequently, they fuel local inflammation, which worsens scar deposition and prevents organ repair.

At Resolution Therapeutics, we are developing regenerative macrophage cell therapy to promote organ repair.

Macrophages in the clinic.

Professor Stuart Forbes led a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of non-engineered autologous macrophage cell therapy in patients with advanced cirrhosis, called the MATCH trial. This study demonstrated the promise of macrophages in treating patients with liver cirrhosis. Data presented at the AASLD Liver Meeting in San Diego in 2024 showed how the non-engineered macrophages were well tolerated and resulted in a significant reduction in complications of cirrhosis. Alongside recent advances that enable the manufacture and storage of enhanced macrophage products, and the ability to enhance their functionality through genetic engineering, the MATCH trials motivated the foundation of Resolution Therapeutics.

Regenerative Macrophage Therapy: One Biology, Two Medicines

Building on the evidence generated through our lead programme RTX001 and the MATCH Phase 2 trial, Resolution Therapeutics is developing a next-generation in vivo Regenerative Macrophage Therapy (RMT). This programme applies validated macrophage biology through a novel delivery approach: Lipid Nano Particles (LNPs) encapsulating proprietary nucleic acid payloads, administered by intravenous infusion, programming therapeutic macrophages inside the patient without the need for cell collection or manufacturing.