Decoy Receptor Protein (Hope Medicine)

Decoy Receptor Protein (Hope Medicine) is a therapeutic protein candidate currently in early-stage development by Hope Medicine for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The drug is designed to function as a decoy receptor, a type of protein that mimics a cell-surface receptor to bind and sequester specific ligands in the wound environment. By acting as a molecular "sink," it prevents these ligands from interacting with their cognate signaling receptors, thereby neutralizing their biological activity. In the context of chronic diabetic wounds, this mechanism is intended to modulate inhibitory signaling pathways or excessive inflammation that typically prevents normal tissue repair and ulcer closure. While the specific molecular target of this decoy receptor has not been publicly disclosed, the program represents an application of Hope Medicine's protein engineering platform to regenerative medicine.