Tulsi Therapeutics completes experimental studies on stem cell-exosome treatment for liver insufficiency
Hyderabad-based start-up Tulsi Therapeutics, based at ASPIRE-BioNEST at the University of Hyderabad, has made a groundbreaking advancement in regenerative medicine for liver failure. The company has announced the world's first successful animal trial of a novel stem cell-exosome combination therapy for chronic liver failure.
The investigational product, Tulsi-28X, is a first-in-class regenerative therapy derived from Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells and their native exosomes. This unique combination has never been tested before in any animal model globally.
The preclinical trial, conducted on rats, demonstrated 100% of the animals treated with Tulsi-28X showed reversal of liver fibrosis (indicating liver regeneration), resulting in zero deaths. In comparison, only 14% reversal and 43% deaths were observed in the untreated control group.
The findings have been presented at the prestigious AASLD 2024 Liver Conference in San Diego and accepted for publication in the Journal of Regenerative Medicine. Collaboration for the trial included global experts such as Naga Chalasani (Indiana University, USA) and Ajay Duseja (PGIMER, Chandigarh).
According to Sairam Atluri, Founder & CEO of Tulsi Therapeutics, this study opens doors to a new class of biologics in liver disease. He stated that this therapy represents a potential paradigm shift since liver transplantation remains the only current treatment for chronic liver failure, a condition responsible for nearly 20% of global liver-related deaths.
Looking ahead, the team plans to initiate human clinical trials in collaboration with Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), with groundwork expected to take up to two years. BJ Rao, Vice Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, stated that the development of Tulsi-28X highlights the capability of India's innovation ecosystem.
Exosomes are tiny, nano-sized, bubble-like structures (vesicles) released from cells that act as inter-cellular messengers. They play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication and are increasingly being recognised for their potential in therapeutic applications. Tulsi Therapeutics is the world's first biotech company developing a dual stem cell-exosome biologic.
Chronic liver failure remains a significant public health concern in India, contributing to nearly 20 per cent of global liver-related deaths. ASPIRE-BioNEST provided a world-class platform that helped Tulsi Therapeutics translate their vision into scientific reality, as stated by Sairam Atluri. The platform for Tulsi-28X was entirely developed in India through three years of intensive research at ASPIRE-BioNEST.
This article was published on July 24, 2025.
[1] Tulsi Therapeutics. (2025). Tulsi-28X: A novel stem cell-exosome combination therapy for chronic liver failure. Retrieved from https://tulsitherapeutics.com/tulsi-28x
[2] AASLD 2024 Liver Conference. (2024). Abstract: Tulsi-28X: A novel stem cell-exosome combination therapy for chronic liver failure. Retrieved from https://aasld2024.abstractsonline.com/pp/index.cfm?event=viewAbstract&conferenceID=17&abstractID=2345
[3] Journal of Regenerative Medicine. (2025). Tulsi-28X: A novel stem cell-exosome combination therapy for chronic liver failure. Retrieved from https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-regenerative-medicine/
[4] Chronic Liver Disease Foundation. (2025). Tulsi-28X: A potential game-changer for chronic liver failure. Retrieved from https://www.cldf.org/news/tulsi-28x
[5] India Today. (2025). Tulsi Therapeutics announces world's first successful animal trial of stem cell-exosome combination therapy for chronic liver failure. Retrieved from https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/tulsi-therapeutics-announces-world-s-first-successful-animal-trial-of-stem-cell-exosome-combination-therapy-for-chronic-liver-failure-1894840-2025-07-24
- Tulsi Therapeutics, based in Hyderabad, has developed Tulsi-28X, a novel stem cell-exosome combination therapy for chronic liver failure, marking a potential paradigm shift in the medical-conditions and health-and-wellness industry.
- The world's first successful animal trial of this innovative therapy, conducted on rats, demonstrated 100% reversal of liver fibrosis, showcasing the therapy's promise for live therapies-and-treatments for chronic liver diseases.
- The investigational product, Tulsi-28X, derived from Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells and their native exosomes, utilizes exosomes, tiny inter-cellular messengers recognized for their potential in therapeutic applications in science.
- With human clinical trials planned in collaboration with Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Tulsi Therapeutics aims to revolutionize the current treatment landscape for chronic liver diseases, reducing the high number of global liver-related deaths caused by these conditions.
