LU 2020-120, LU 2021-119, LU 2021-191
INVENTOR
Youyang Zhao*
SHORT DESCRIPTION
New targets and methods for treating pulmonary hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and cardiomyopathy are deleterious diseases often characterized by excessive vasoconstriction or abnormal vascular-ventricular remodeling. Current therapies such as vasodilators do not address the fundamental disease-modifying mechanisms and result in only modest improvement in morbidity and mortality. Surgical procedures remain the treatment with the best outcome.
ABSTRACT
Northwestern researchers have identified new targets that can be modulated to treat PH and cardiomyopathy. Specifically, they show that the inhibition of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-2a and activation of HIF prolyl-4 hydroxylase 2 (PHD2) have improved outcomes for both disease in preclinical models. In multiple animal studies, the Zhao lab demonstrates that either monotherapy or combination therapy with drugs for these targets attenuate hypertension and normalize cardiac function. Using their novel method of treatment, they can target underlying pathological mechanisms and significantly increase survival. These therapies appear to be more effective than current vasodilators and are a less invasive alternative to surgery.
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
PUBLICATION
Dai, Z. et al. (2021) Loss of Endothelial Hypoxia Inducible Factor-Prolyl Hydroxylase 2 Induces Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis. J. Am. Heart Assoc. 10(22): e022077.
IP STATUS
US and International patent applications have been filed.