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Gene therapy: 'Heart-healing virus' trial starts | Gene therapy: 'Heart-healing virus' trial starts |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Patients in the UK have been enrolled into a trial to see if an engineered virus can be used to heal their damaged and struggling hearts. | Patients in the UK have been enrolled into a trial to see if an engineered virus can be used to heal their damaged and struggling hearts. |
The trial will use a virus to introduce genetic material into heart muscle to reverse the organ's decline. | The trial will use a virus to introduce genetic material into heart muscle to reverse the organ's decline. |
The British Heart Foundation said the idea had "great potential" but needed to be proven in clinical trials. | The British Heart Foundation said the idea had "great potential" but needed to be proven in clinical trials. |
Heart failure affects more than 750,000 people in the UK and can leave some people too weak to climb the stairs. | Heart failure affects more than 750,000 people in the UK and can leave some people too weak to climb the stairs. |
It occurs when the organ is damaged, for example after being starved of oxygen in a heart attack, and becomes too weak to effectively pump blood around the body. | It occurs when the organ is damaged, for example after being starved of oxygen in a heart attack, and becomes too weak to effectively pump blood around the body. |
There have been huge medical leaps in keeping patients alive after a heart attack, but the consequence is a rapidly growing number of people living with heart failure. | There have been huge medical leaps in keeping patients alive after a heart attack, but the consequence is a rapidly growing number of people living with heart failure. |
Researchers at Imperial College London found levels of the protein SERCA2a were lower in heart-failure patients. So they devised a genetically modified virus, with the instructions for producing more of the protein, that can infect the heart. | Researchers at Imperial College London found levels of the protein SERCA2a were lower in heart-failure patients. So they devised a genetically modified virus, with the instructions for producing more of the protein, that can infect the heart. |
The virus will be released into the damaged heart muscle of the 200 patients involved in the trial via a tube inserted into the leg and pushed up through the blood vessels. | The virus will be released into the damaged heart muscle of the 200 patients involved in the trial via a tube inserted into the leg and pushed up through the blood vessels. |
Prof Sian Harding, from Imperial College London, said: "It's bringing [the heart] back to the point where patients were pretty well, just after the initial damage occurred. | Prof Sian Harding, from Imperial College London, said: "It's bringing [the heart] back to the point where patients were pretty well, just after the initial damage occurred. |
"We think this is a treatment that can improve quality of life for quite a lot of people." | "We think this is a treatment that can improve quality of life for quite a lot of people." |
Dr Alexander Lyon, a cardiologist at Royal Brompton Hospital, where some patients will take part in the trial, said: "This is the first ever gene therapy trial for heart failure. | Dr Alexander Lyon, a cardiologist at Royal Brompton Hospital, where some patients will take part in the trial, said: "This is the first ever gene therapy trial for heart failure. |
"Our goal is to fight back against heart failure by targeting and reversing some of the critical molecular changes arising in the heart when it fails." | "Our goal is to fight back against heart failure by targeting and reversing some of the critical molecular changes arising in the heart when it fails." |
The Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank is also taking part in the trial. | |
Dr Mark Petrie said: "As a national service treating Scottish patients with the most serious heart failure, it is vital that we are at the forefront of new research and developments." | |
Prof Peter Weissberg, the medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: "Whilst drugs can offer some relief, there is currently no way of restoring function to the heart for those suffering with heart failure. | Prof Peter Weissberg, the medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: "Whilst drugs can offer some relief, there is currently no way of restoring function to the heart for those suffering with heart failure. |
"Gene therapy aims to improve the function of weak heart muscle cells, whereas our Mending Broken Hearts Appeal is aimed at finding ways to replace dead heart muscle cells after a heart attack. | "Gene therapy aims to improve the function of weak heart muscle cells, whereas our Mending Broken Hearts Appeal is aimed at finding ways to replace dead heart muscle cells after a heart attack. |
"Both approaches are novel and both offer great potential for the future." | "Both approaches are novel and both offer great potential for the future." |
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