MERLIN

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) causes a protease–antiprotease imbalance in the lungs, leading to chronic inflammation, tissue degradation, and emphysema. Current augmentation therapy requires lifelong intravenous infusions and has limited efficacy and high costs. MERLIN aims to develop the first cell-free regenerative therapy for AATD-associated lung diseases, based on the secretome (MSC-Sec) derived from heterologous adipose mesenchymal stromal cells. The project involves the pharmaceutical development of MSC-Sec into a standardized, ready-to-use injectable formulation (lyoS) and the evaluatation of its regenerative, anti-inflammatory, anti-protease, and anti-infective properties. Therapeutic efficacy and safety will be tested in vitro and in an elastase-induced COPD murine model. Advanced proteomic and network analyses will elucidate pathological and regenerative mechanisms, supporting a safe and effective alternative to cell-based therapies.