Genoskin's collaboration with Merakris Therapeutics recognized with Best Laboratory Research Award
14 April 2026
Merakris Therapeutics, a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company announced that, in collaboration with CRO iFyber, it received the Best Laboratory Research Award at the Symposium for Advanced Wound Care Spring 2026, a leading industry forum.
The award recognizes preclinical data demonstrating that Merakris’ proprietary cell-free amniotic fluid platform MTX-001 delivers statistically significant acceleration of wound closure, re-epithelialization and tissue regeneration in Genoskin's ex vivo human skin model of wound healing.
In addition to the efficacy assessment, Genoskin's skin model also supported the evaluation of biodistribution and retention of therapeutic components within human skin tissue, confirming retention of MTX-001 active components.
Chronic skin wounds or skin ulcers, usually distinguished as vascular, diabetic, and pressure ulcers, are a particularly debilitating condition, often producing severe long-term consequences, ranging from amputation to mortality. Owing in great part to numerous human-specific features of the skin physiology, animal models of chronic skin wounds are widely recognized as inadequate, resulting in poor translation of preclinical studies to human outcomes.
MTX-001 is currently being evaluated in a multicenter Phase 2 trial for venous leg ulcers and is also available through an Expanded Access Program for cutaneous wounds. The promising preclinical findings position Merakris' program as a potential first-in-class entrant in a stagnant, multi-billion-dollar market, highlighting the value of combining innovative therapies with human-relevant preclinical models.
“We believe MTX-001 represents a differentiated, multi-modal approach to wound healing with the potential to shift the treatment paradigm,” said Dr. Roger Ilagan, Chief Scientific Officer of Merakris Therapeutics. “This recognition, combined with our ongoing clinical progress, reinforces the strength of our platform and the opportunity ahead.”
“This study underscores the power of combining new approach methodologies, such as our advanced viable human skin model, and advanced bioanalytics with innovative biologics,” said Dr. Aaron Strickland, Vice President of Research & Development at iFyber. “The data generated here provide a strong foundation for this exciting testing platform and continued clinical advancement of MTX-001.”
For weekly news, trends and insights on human‑based in vitro approaches, explore your access options.
