A study has now successfully controlled the effects of collagen hypersecretion at the cellular level. The experimental treatment consists of designer peptides which interrupt the interaction between TANGO1 and cTAGE5, two proteins important for collagen secretion. Experiments with patient-derived human cells and zebrafish showed the peptides are effective, non-toxic, and their effects reversible. The results pave the way for the development of new treatments that improve the cosmetic effects of scarring, relieve the symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, or help prevent the development of fibrosis, a more serious condition attributed to 45% of deaths in the industrialized world.