Technology

CGRP is the body’s natural response to ischemic insult in an effort to minimize the damage being inflicted to the myocardial tissues due to hypoxic conditions. Preclinical data unequivocally demonstrates the benefits of CGRP infusion in reducing heart muscle damage during a heart attack, and that doing so a soon as possible greatly reduce the scope of ischemic damage, and initiates the subsequent healing processes of the affected area. Unfortunately, the body’s natural CGRP stores are not sufficient to minimize damage to the cardiac tissues during ischemia nor provide cardioprotective benefits. Furthermore, CGRP produces a highly beneficial hemodynamic profile that when combined with the peptide’s capability to reduce tissue damage, make it an ideal compliment to existing standard of care- Treating both the symptoms of HF and the cause for disease progression.



The figure above illustrates the areas in which CGRP has demonstrated cardiovascular benefits. CGRP has significant advantages over conventional HF drug treatments in that the intrinsic activities of CGRP permit it to function in a multidimensional manner similar to five classes of drugs- ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers diuretics, gp IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and vasodilators. It accomplishes this without deleterious effects to concomitant medication mechanisms of action, and can be administered by IV in the hospital and by long-term controlled release technologies for outpatient and clinic treatments.

It is these advantages that excite cardiologists regarding CGRP's potential to not only treat HF symptoms, but to potentially delay rehospitalization and disease progression, reduce patient drug compliance issues, and reduce overall healthcare costs attributed to HF treatment.

In February of 2004 VasoGenix conducted a product concept test with 20 leading cardiologists based on what was known about CGRP and the IV and controlled release treatment options currently under development at VasoGenix. Below is what they had to say.



Subsequent meetings with cardiology thought leaders from our Clinical Research Steering Committee have solidified the development program and refined the CGRP therapy to maximize the peptide's benefits to comprehensively treat HF and meet the greatest needs faced by HF clinicians and patients.

At VasoGenix we believe it is not enough to just treat the symptoms of HF, but to keep HF patients out of the hospital, increase quality of life and lower healthcare costs.