January 26th 2012
MS drug shows promise for preventing heart failure
A multiple sclerosis drug could be used
to prevent heart failure by reversing the symptoms of cardiac hypertrophy – a potentially fatal
condition caused by sustained stress on the heart.
The Manchester University research, which was
part-funded by us, found that an enzyme called Pak1 could be key to
the development of cardiac hypertrophy. The
scientists discovered that, in mice, if Pak1 became more active, it
had a protective effect on the heart. This prevented the symptoms
caused by cardiac hypertrophy.
A drug called Gilenya that stimulates
Pak1 is already licensed for treating Multiple Sclerosis.
With further research hopefully this drug could be used to treat
people with cardiac hypertrophy and prevent heart failure.
We urgently need new and better ways, to help treat and prevent the debilitating condition.
Our
Associate Medical Director, Professor Jeremy Pearson, said:
“
Heart failure currently affects 750,000
people in the UK and this number is increasing. We urgently
need new and better ways, to help
treat and prevent the
debilitating condition.
“This study has identified, in mice, a gene
that could be targeted by drugs to protect the
heart from failure. Since an approved multiple sclerosis drug
exists that already targets Pak1, there is real promise that with
more research these findings could be translated into a new
treatment for people living with heart failure.”