Novel methods for genetic calcium channel blockade

The development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), irrespective of etiology, confers an incremental risk of adverse outcomes in the general population and in patients with different forms of cardiovascular disease. Importantly, LVH is also an early event in patients destined to develop congestive heart failure. Calcium-signaling pathways have been implicated in the development of LVH, but the clinical use of pharmaceutical calcium channel blockers is limited by side effects due to blockade of non-cardiac channels, and improvement on cardiovascular mortality has not been demonstrated with these agents. JHU researchers have shown that genetic suppression of a specific calcium channel through RNAi is capable of attenuating the hypertrophic response both in vitro and in vivo without compromising systolic performance. Description (Set) Proposed Use (Set) This invention describes a novel approach for the treatment of LVH and thus a novel and useful therapeutic target. Furthermore, this approach avoids the undesired effects of blockade of non-cardiac channels that could account in part for the limited clinical benefit observed with pharmaceutical agents.

Inventor(s): Marban, Eduardo

Type of Offer: Licensing



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