University of Glasgow Spin-Out Causeway Therapeutics to Advance Phase 3 Trials for Pioneering Tendon Repair Drug

University of Glasgow Spin-Out Causeway Therapeutics to Advance Phase 3 Trials for Pioneering Tendon Repair Drug

(IN BRIEF) Causeway Therapeutics, a University of Glasgow spin-out, has announced strong Phase 2 results for its novel microRNA therapy, TenoMiR®, used to treat tennis elbow. The study, involving 123 patients across the UK and USA, showed significant improvements in pain relief, tendon structure, and function after a single injection of TenoMiR, with no major safety issues. The results support the potential of TenoMiR as a first-of-its-kind regenerative treatment for tendinopathy by targeting the miR29a molecule that regulates collagen production. CEO Declan Doogan described the findings as potentially game-changing, while researchers plan further Phase 3 and Phase 2 trials for additional tendon disorders. The breakthrough reinforces Glasgow’s standing as a leader in biotech innovation and academic–industry collaboration.

(PRESS RELEASE) GLASGOW, 31-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Biotech innovator Causeway Therapeutics, a spin-out from the University of Glasgow, has announced highly encouraging results from a major clinical study of its novel treatment for tendinopathy, commonly known as tennis elbow. The company says the findings support moving forward with full development of its proprietary microRNA-based drug, TenoMiR®, which could mark a new era in tendon repair and regeneration.

The treatment, built on pioneering research led by Professor Iain McInnes, Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow and co-founder of Causeway, alongside co-founders Dr Derek Gilchrist and Professor Neal Millar, targets a single microRNA—miR29a—that regulates collagen production, the key protein responsible for tendon strength.

In the Phase 2 study, conducted across multiple sites in the UK and USA, two dose levels of TenoMiR were tested in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 123 patients with lateral epicondylitis. A single ultrasound-guided injection of TenoMiR into the tendinopathic lesion led to statistically significant improvements in pain, upper limb function, and tendon structure over a 90-day period, with the treatment showing excellent safety and tolerability. Among the 90 patients who received the injection at the optimal site, significant reductions in pain were recorded at both 28 and 90 days, accompanied by structural improvements in the tendon.

“The Phase 2 data are highly promising, demonstrating that TenoMiR could be transformative for patients,” said Declan Doogan, Chief Executive Officer of Causeway Therapeutics and Visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow Medical School. “While most therapies focus on managing pain, TenoMiR has the potential to modify tendinopathy at the molecular level and promote real tendon healing.”

Scott Rodeo, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and Head Team Physician for the New York Giants, who was an investigator in the trial, added: “No existing treatments can consistently enhance tendon microstructure. These results suggest TenoMiR could benefit a wide range of tendon conditions, including those affecting the rotator cuff, patellar, and Achilles tendons.”

Professor McInnes described the findings as a breakthrough: “This is the first time we’ve seen evidence of an intervention capable of regenerating human tendon tissue while also improving symptoms. It opens an entirely new pathway for treating these complex disorders.”

Encouraged by these findings, Causeway Therapeutics now plans a Phase 3 trial for TenoMiR in lateral epicondylitis and a Phase 2 trial for rotator cuff tendinopathy. The company’s progress highlights the University of Glasgow’s growing reputation as a hub for medical innovation—its six leading spin-outs collectively raised over £60 million in 2024, creating more than 250 jobs and driving economic growth in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council through the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District initiative.

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SOURCE: University of Glasgow