A novel combination of growth factors that may serve as a basis for promoting blood vessel formation, and stabilizing those vessels whose stability may be compromised

BACKGROUND: It is generally recognized that the focus of treatment in cardiovascular disease is to lower the risk associated with an immediate acute cardiovascular event while subsequently delaying or preventing the onset of chronic disease.   This acute risk may be associated with a disruption in vessel stability resulting in hemorrhage, or addressing vascular blockage that may result in ischemia.  Similarly, following treatment for an acute cardiovascular event (ie. blood thinners for blood clot) there is the need to limit subsequent risk due to the treatment regime, as well as promote the restoration of blood flow to the damaged region. In restoring blood flow following ischemia, there is the need to grow new blood vessels (referred at as angiogenesis), limit subsequent hemorrhage, and promote rapid vessel maturation. 

 

Opportunities for tissue growth factor-based therapies that regulate cell proliferation and tissue repair exist in disorders characterizing cardiovascular disease. It has been clinically demonstrated that the administration of factors that promote new blood vessel growth to bypass patients yield evidence of improved blood supply and heart function. Angiogenesis plays a primary role in repairing the vessels in the heart and in the repair and regeneration of tissues throughout the body. Pro-angiogenic growth factor therapy as a strategy can support wound healing in blood vessels and restore blood flow to the brain, heart and limbs.  In the US alone, annually these three systems represent markets of approximately 800,000 stroke patients, 12.4 million patients with coronary artery disease, and 8 million people with peripheral vascular disease respectively.  As a prophylactic against the risk of compromised blood vessel integrity, the market increases to include a number of other age-related disorders.  This market would include the 1.2 million cases in the US of wet age-related macular degeneration and the 135,000 new Americans diagnosed each year with diabetic macular edema

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: A cardiovascular scientist at Robarts has identified a novel combination of growth factors that may serve as a basis for promoting blood vessel formation, and stabilizing those vessels whose stability may be compromised.  The ability of these factors to support angiogenesis has been validated within in vitro and in vivo models.  Similarly, this combination has been demonstrated to promote investment of premature blood vessels into fully reactive forms within in vivo models.  The novel ability of this combination to stabilize blood vessels in vivo can serve as a basis for both pro-regenerative strategies and for supporting patients at risk for hemorrhage

 

POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES/USES:

 

• Can be considered for systemic administration, or local administration through biomaterials
• Angiogenesis is promoted while retaining the regulatory and patterning constraints associated with normal angiogenesis
• Augments the natural pathways associated with angiogenesis and vessel maturation
• May support therapeutic angiogenesis, ie. following ischemia, aneurysm, coronary artery bypass surgery
• May be used as prophylactic treatment of patients at risk for hemorrhage due to vessel instability, ie. hemorrhagic stroke risk, wet AMD

Keywords: blood vessels, angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, hemorrhage, ischemia, growth factors, stroke, AMD, aneurysm, macular degeneration, macular edema, regenerative medicine

Preclinical

Provisional Phase Application