Inventors at USF have bioengineered a peptibody which has proven to be a potent blocker of the acetylcholine activated inward rectifier current (IKACh). IKACh plays an important role in chronic AF, making this potassium current a compelling therapeutic target. The bioengineered peptibody developed is a fusion protein between previously studied anti-IKACh peptides, TertiapinQ and human IgG1 Fc. Both Tertiapin Q and human IgF1 have been studied individually in past research, but the fusion protein has been shown to be a more potent channel blocker than the aforementioned peptides separately. USF researchers have collected solid data from laboratory animal testing of mice and sheep models that shows substantial recover of heart rate after treatment with the fusion protein.
The Characteristic Contribution of IKACh to the Sinus Rhythm of the Atria