Our Technology
Ground-breaking targeted heart repair and organ regeneration platform
We have developed a treatment for the 23 million patients worldwide suffering from heart failure every year
Our
Technology
Ground-breaking targeted heart
repair and organ regeneration
platform
We have developed a
treatment for the 23 million
patients worldwide suffering
from heart failure every year
Why is heart failure so prevalent?
Adult heart cells (cardiomyocytes)do not regenerate. Therefore the heart is incapable of self repair after a heart attack
Irreplacable cardiomyocyte cell death, leads to formation of scar tissue/fibrosis
The replacement of heart muscle with scar tissue reduces cardiac pumping function
Why is heart failure so prevalent?
Adult heart cells (cardiomyocytes) do not regenerate. Therefore the heart is incapable of self repair after
a heart attack.
Irreplacable cardiomyocyte cell death, leads to formation of scar tissue/fibrosis.
The replacement of heart muscle with scar tissue reduces cardiac
pumping function.
Current treatments are largely ineffective against blocking cardiac myocyte cell death and their replacement
Medications
(ACE inhibitors, ARBs, ARNIs, Beta Blockers, diuretics)
Treat symptoms, but do not regenerate cardiomyocytes - the cells that facilitate heart function
Medications
Treat symptoms, but do not regenerate cardiomyocytes - the cells that facilitate heart function
Heart Transplant
Low availability of hearts, expensive, lifetime immunosuppression.
Less than one percent treated
Xenotransplant (from pigs) remains an unproven technology
Heart Transplant
Low availability of hearts, expensive, lifetime immunosuppression.
Less than one percent treated
Xenotransplant (from pigs) remains an unproven technology
Cell Therapy
(adult stem cells, reprogrammed pluripotent cells):
Adult stem cells have shown modest efficacy and residency decreases over time also are expensive to produce;
Myocytes from pluripotent stem cells have caused arrythmias
Cell Therapy
Adult stem cells have shown modest efficacy and residency decreases over time also are expensive to produce;
Myocytes from pluripotent stem cells have caused arrythmias
We have potentially developed a number of strategies and products, which unlike current treatment options promote heart and other organ regeneration
We have potentially developed a number of strategies and products, which unlike current treatment options promote heart and other organ regeneration
Our Solution
STEMIN and YAP-5SA administered by direct injection
We developed an engineered form of SRF, we named STEMIN after its ability to activate stem cell genes reversing the differentiated phenotype in adult heart cells.
When cardiomyocytes are exposed to STEMIN plus a constitutive active engineered form of YAP1 (YAP1-5SA), they are reprogrammed back to more a primitive stem cell-like form which enables cell replication.
Our Solution
STEMIN and YAP-5SA administered by direct injection
We developed an engineered form of SRF, we named STEMIN after its ability to activate stem cell genes reversing the differentiated phenotype in adult heart cells.
When cardiomyocytes are exposed to STEMIN plus a constitutive active engineered form of YAP1 (YAP1-5SA), they are reprogrammed back to more a primitive stem cell-like form which enables cell replication
Function of SRF & YAP 1
In the embryo and early neonate, SRF and YAP1 mediate cell replication.
The Transformation of SRF & YAP 1
But soon after birth YAP1 and SRF undergo a shift to promotion of differentiation to mature cardiomyocytes and do not mediate cell replication
Our Solution using SRF
& YAP 1
The direct injection of YAP-5SA and STEMIN mRNA into the left ventricle of an infarcted mouse heart directs the mature cardio myocytes which are normally non-replicating into a more primitive stem cell like state
The cells in this primitive state showed expression of DNA replication genes, Cardiomyocyte proliferation and the regeneration of heart muscle in the left ventricle.
Our Findings
In our study we found improvement from 37% to 50% in ejection fraction
(a measure of pumping function).
This is a 13% uplift or 35% increase in ejection fraction compared to non-treated, to 77% of the ejection fraction prior to the infarct from just a single round of treatment.
Non-Treated
Infarcted area was converted to necrotic and fibrotic heart tissue
Treated with 1x round of YAP5SA & STEMIN
Massive reduction of infarct area, minimal scar tissue, heart muscle and pumping function restored.
STEMIN and YAP-5SA significantly improved cardiac function and myocardial fibrosis and necrosis post-myocardial infarction.
Combo
STEMIN
Control
YAP5SA
Our Findings
In our study we found improvement from 37% to 50% in injection fraction (a measure of pumping function).
This is a 13% uplift or 35% increase in injection fraction compared to non-treated, to 77% of the injection fraction prior to the infarct from just a single round of treatment.
Non-Treated
Large white area are infarct and
show build of scar tissue
and muscle loss
Treated with 1x round of YAP & STEMIN
Massive reduction of infarct area, minimal scar tissue, heart muscle
and pumping function restored.
