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collagen (Gelfix / Biopad / Condress)

✓ Approved

Merck & Co. · therapeutic agent

What is collagen?

collagen is a therapeutic agent developed by Merck & Co.. It is approved for therapeutic indications via topical.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesGelfix, Biopad, Condress
CompanyMerck & Co.
RouteTopical
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Merck & Co.

Therapeutic Indications

collagen is developed for 4 unique indications across 3 therapeutic areas.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
General disorders and administration site conditionsImpaired healing✓ Approved
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersDiabetic foot✓ Approved
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersDecubitus ulcer✓ Approved
Vascular disordersPeripheral venous disease✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedJournal of biomedical materials research. Part A2026-10-16

Dual Modification of Collagen Hydrogels Using UVA-Riboflavin Crosslinking and Silk Fibroin Incorporation to Enhance Mechanical Properties, Stability, and Printability.

Vijayan Nithyashri Muthu NM, Babu Diya Pillai DP, Caner Beste B, Shyam Rohin R et al.

Type I collagen is a biomaterial of preferred choice due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to support cell adhesion and proliferation. However, the use of collagen hydrogels in tissue engineering (TE) is limited due to poor mechanical properties and low stability. This study introduces a novel dual-modification strategy to enhance collagen properties by combining UVA-mediated riboflavin/sodium persulfate (RF/SPS) photocrosslinking with the incorporation of unsonicated silk fibroin (SF), an approach not previously reported. Collagen hydrogels were fabricated in four variations: uncrosslinked collagen (UXL-C), UVA-mediated RF/SPS photocrosslinked collagen (XL-C), SF incorporated UVA-RF/SPS photocrosslinked collagen using two different collagen:SF ratios (XL-CS 1:1 w/w) and (XL-CS 1:2 w/w). Mechanical testing and stability results showed that combining UVA-RF/SPS photocrosslinking and SF incorporation significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) the compressive modulus and increased mass-retention of collagen hydrogels suggesting that the addition of unsonicated SF improves the mechanical properties and stability of photochemically crosslinked collagen hydrogels. All hydrogel compositions exhibit shear-thinning behavior demonstrating applicability for extrusion-based 3D printing via Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH)-based methodology. 3D printed SF-incorporated collagen constructs showed improved shape fidelity compared to constructs printed with collagen-only inks. In vitro cell culture studies revealed that all hydrogel formulations supported cell viability and metabolic activity over 7 days of culture. Together, these findings demonstrate that combining UVA-mediated RF/SPS photocrosslinking and unsonicated SF incorporation is a viable strategy to improve the mechanical properties, stability, and printability of collagen hydrogels for biomedical and TE applications.

PMID 42885527
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PubMedCells2026-10-16

Paracrine Signals from the Tumor Microenvironment Modulate Stem Cell Collagen Interaction and Remodeling, Indicating Early Functional Changes.

Topalova Lora L, Stoyanova Tanya T, García-Parra Nadia N, Gómez Ribelles José Luis JL et al.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is shaped by dynamic interactions between malignant cells and stromal components, with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) contributing to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Here, we examined how secretomes from two hematological cancer cell lines, RPMI-8226 (multiple myeloma) and HG-3 (B-cell leukemia), influence early functional responses of human adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) and their interaction with and reorganization of collagen. Cancer-conditioned media accelerated MSC proliferation (~2-fold faster doubling time) and increased SA-β-galactosidase activity (~3-4-fold above control). Upon adhesion to collagen, treated MSCs displayed distinct morphologies and reduced cell spreading (~2100 μm2 vs. ~2500 μm2 in controls), accompanied by altered collagen organization. To quantify collagen remodeling, we introduced the collagen removal index (CRI), expressing reorganized collagen area relative to cell spreading area. CRI revealed higher remodeling efficiency in HG-3-treated MSCs than in RPMI-8226-treated and control cells, indicating enhanced collagen-interacting capacity. Secretome exposure also modulated cytokine secretion, with increased bFGF under both conditions and IL-6 upregulation specifically following HG-3 exposure. After secretome withdrawal, most functional alterations, including senescence-associated changes, motility, and elevated bFGF, persisted. Notably, IL-6 upregulation and increased CRI emerged in RPMI-8226-exposed MSCs after withdrawal, suggesting a delayed response. Together, these findings reveal early, partially persistent functional shifts in MSC behavior and collagen remodeling that may represent an early stromal response with potential relevance to tumor progression.

PMID 42882473
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PubMedInternational journal of molecular sciences2026-10-16

Attenuation of Cardiac Dysfunction in the Collagen-Induced Arthritis Mouse Model Mediated by a Reactive Aldehyde Species Inhibitor.

Zhou Wenxian W, Johnson Hannah J HJ, Duryee Michael J MJ, Namvaran Ali A et al.

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience increased risk of heart failure. Malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) adducts are overexpressed and co-localize with citrullinated (CIT) proteins in RA myocardium. This study investigated whether reactive aldehyde species (RASP) inhibitors prevent MAA formation in vitro and attenuate cardiac dysfunction in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. Among eight RASP inhibitors screened, ADX-246 demonstrated the greatest inhibition of MAA formation in vitro. Mice with early CIA (week 5) exhibited elevated levels of myocardial MAA adducts, myocardial inflammation, and reduced ejection fraction, but normal cardiac collagen deposition and diastolic function vs. control. By weeks 10-12, mice with chronic CIA demonstrated increased levels of myocardial MAA and CIT adducts, perivascular collagen deposition, and diastolic dysfunction. ADX-246 treatment reduced myocardial levels of MAA and CIT adducts, inflammation, fibrosis, and cardiac dysfunction in CIA. While ADX-246 reduced weight loss and attenuated arthritis severity, it did not reduce serum autoantibody levels or serum markers of inflammation or fibrosis. Indices of diastolic dysfunction significantly correlated with myocardial MAA and CIT levels, collagen deposition, arthritis severity, and weight loss. These findings support the hypothesis that targeting myocardial RASP and MAA formation may represent a novel therapeutic approach for preventing cardiac dysfunction in RA.

PMID 42883727
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PubMedInternational journal of molecular sciences2026-10-16

Thoracolumbar Fascia Remodeling in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Translational Orthopedic Perspectives.

Fede Caterina C, De Luca Clara C, Clair Claudia C, Martonovich Noa N et al.

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a major cause of pain and disability, yet its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. Although spinal decompression is the standard surgical treatment for LSS with disabling pain or with progressive neurological symptoms, clinical outcomes are often suboptimal, with reoperation required in 5-23% of cases. While degenerative changes in the vertebral canal have been extensively investigated, the potential contribution of the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) has never been explored at the molecular level. We hypothesized that TLF undergoes extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammatory changes in LSS. Thoracolumbar fascia biopsies were collected from 14 patients undergoing spinal surgery (seven with LSS and seven controls with traumatic vertebral fractures). Total collagen content was quantified by hydroxyproline assay; collagen subtypes (I, III, VI and XII) by Western blotting; and inflammatory activity and extracellular matrix remodeling by ELISA quantification of TNF-α and MMP-2. LSS patients showed significantly higher hydroxyproline content (p = 0.026), indicating increased collagen deposition and fibrotic fascial remodeling, together with elevated MMP-2 levels (p = 0.038), consistent with active chronic extracellular matrix remodeling. TNF-α levels did not differ significantly between groups, although marked inter-individual variability was observed. Collagen subtype expression showed distinct trends but no significant differences. These findings provide the first molecular evidence of fibrotic remodeling and altered extracellular matrix turnover in TLF of LSS patients, supporting its role as an active contributor to disease pathophysiology and a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

PMID 42883809
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PubMedJournal of dental research2026-10-16

Fanconi Anemia: Matrix Remodeling and Oral Carcinogenesis.

Silva T A TA, Santana N C M NCM, de Arruda J A A JAA, Rocha P A PA et al.

Fanconi anemia (FA) increases the risk of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma; however, the stromal alterations associated with FA-related oral lesions remain poorly defined. We investigated whether extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling represents a quantifiable feature of FA-associated OPMDs. A total of 119 participants were included: controls with normal mucosa or oral leukoplakia (OL) and individuals with FA. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses (p53, Ki-67, α-SMA, and elastin), picrosirius red staining, and multiphoton microscopy combining second-harmonic generation and 2-photon fluorescence were performed, complemented by salivary and transcriptomic profiling. Additionally, Fanca-deficient mice were used to assess stromal remodeling. Compared with sporadic OL, FA-OL exhibited reduced collagen density and elastin autofluorescence, a higher collagen-to-elastin ratio, and diminished p53 immunoreactivity. Salivary procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide showed exploratory associations with matrix-derived optical parameters. RNA sequencing of bulk biopsy tissue revealed an altered matrisome transcriptional signature, including enrichment of ECM structural gene sets and downregulation of selected ECM regulatory programs. In FA-related mouse models, collagen and elastin signals were similarly reduced. Collectively, these multimodal data identify ECM disruption as a reproducible feature associated with FA-OL. Matrix disorganization, together with altered epithelial p53 immunoreactivity, supports the hypothesis that epithelial and stromal alterations coexist across the FA-associated oral lesion spectrum.

PMID 42881567
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PubMedCells2026-10-16

Small Wonders: How Nanotechnology Is Redefining Shoulder and Elbow Surgery.

Pang Alexander Shao-Rong AS, Lim Joel Louis JL, Srinivasan Dinesh Kumar DK, Liau Zi Qiang Glen ZQG

Nanotechnology has been increasingly incorporated into shoulder and elbow surgery, from bioinductive collagen scaffolds for rotator cuff repair to nanostructured implant surfaces for arthroplasty and nanoparticle-functionalized sutures for elbow tendon repair. This review evaluates the current evidence base for these applications and clarifies which technologies are supported by clinical data versus preclinical/mechanistic evidence alone. A narrative review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus (January 2005-September 2026), supplemented by manual screening of society guidelines. Of 1842 records identified, 77 articles and 6 guideline documents were considered in the initial evidence synthesis, with 54 references ultimately retained in the published review. Because of heterogeneity in study design (randomized trials, cohorts, and preclinical models), findings were synthesized narratively. In rotator cuff repair, bioinductive collagen (REGENETEN) and acellular dermal matrix augmentation have the most mature clinical evidence, with randomized and cohort data showing reduced retear rates, whereas the collagen-PLLA biocomposite (BioBrace) remains largely preclinical. In shoulder and elbow arthroplasty, nanostructured and nanotextured titanium surfaces have preclinical and early clinical support for enhanced osseointegration, while antimicrobial silver and titanium dioxide nanocoatings and metal-phenolic network coatings remain supported chiefly by in vitro and animal data, with cytotoxicity and photocatalytic limitations still unresolved. In elbow surgery specifically, nanoparticle- and gene-functionalized sutures have shown benefit in flexor tendon models with anatomically agnostic translational potential, but direct elbow-specific clinical data are lacking, and applications to the ulnar collateral ligament, cartilage, and total elbow arthroplasty bearings remain at the preclinical or expert-opinion stage. Nanotechnology is clinically established only for a small number of shoulder and elbow applications, principally bioinductive collagen augmentation of rotator cuff repair; most other applications, including antimicrobial nanocoatings and elbow-specific nanoparticle delivery systems, remain mechanistically promising but clinically unproven. Progress toward clinical translation will depend on adequately powered trials that separate device-specific effects from the heterogeneous preclinical literature currently supporting the field.

PMID 42882528
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