Viravuth P. Yin, Ph.D., Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (IMAGE)
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MDI Biological Laboratory scientist Viravuth P. Yin, Ph.D., with zebrafish. Scientists at the MDI Biological Laboratory and Novo Biosciences have identified a drug candidate to restore heart muscle function following a heart attack. Their research on the role of MSI-1436 in regenerating heart muscle tissue in zebrafish and mice was described in a paper in the peer-reviewed journal, npj Regenerative Medicine. Cardiovascular disease is the world's leading killer, taking the lives of 17.5 million people annually, according to the World Health Organization, and disabling millions more. Currently, no drug exists to restore heart muscle function after a heart attack. The original research on MSI-1436 was conducted by Yin in zebrafish, an organism that can regenerate the form and function of almost any body part. He found that the administration of MSI-1436 increased appendage regeneration by 200 to 300 percent. Follow-up research showed that MSI-1436 also stimulated zebrafish heart regeneration to the same degree. Yin followed the studies in zebrafish with studies in adult mice, which, like humans, have a limited capacity for regeneration. The results in mice showed that the administration of MSI-1436 24 hours after an artificially induced heart attack increased survival, improved heart function two- to three-fold, reduced the size of the infarct or scar tissue by 53 percent, reduced ventricular wall thinning and stimulated heart muscle cell proliferation in the infarct border zone by six-fold. "The potential impact of MSI-1436 is enormous," Yin said. "If it shows similar results in humans, it will be a game-changer for patients who suffer a heart attack and/or are living with heart disease." The drug has been shown to be well tolerated by patients in Phase 1 and 1b clinical trials for an unrelated indication, which is expected to help speed the path to market.
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MDI Biological Laboratory
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