Anti-scar peptide for cleft lip repair

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is the most common craniofacial congenital anomaly in the US. Since CLP can cause severe developmental, functional, aesthetic, and psychological difficulties if not corrected, it is the most frequently reported birth defect requiring surgery. Unfortunately, hypertrophic scar (HS) formation is a common complication of cleft lip repair surgery (8%-47% according to various studies) and often requires multiple surgical revisions. HS management in CLP repair is significantly more challenging than other scars due to: 1) lack of tissue (cleft); 2) excessive tension in the repaire cleft due to missing tissue, action of the perioral muscles, and head growth; and 3) higher expectations for aesthetics. Current treatments such as corticosteroids have undesirable side effects such as reduced wound strength and skin atrophy while radiation carries a risk of future malignancy. Therefore, there is a pressing need for alternative therapies to reduce HS formation