WU-124

WU-124 is a small molecule inhibitor of Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4), also known as integrin alpha-4 beta-1 (α4β1). Developed by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), WU-124 is designed to enhance the mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood. By blocking the VLA-4/VCAM-1 adhesion pathway, which works alongside the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis to retain HSPCs in the bone marrow niche, WU-124 synergistically amplifies and prolongs the mobilization effect of CXCR4 antagonists like plerixafor. This G-CSF-free, single-day mobilization strategy aims to improve collection efficiency and scheduling flexibility for autologous stem cell transplantation and ex vivo HSPC gene therapy applications.