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Heart Drug Breakthrough: £1M Funding Boost
12 May
Summary
- University of Aberdeen secured over £1m for heart disease drug development.
- The drug Trodusquemine has shown promise in reducing artery fat and cholesterol.
- Funding will advance the drug towards crucial human clinical trials.
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen are set to continue developing a novel drug, Trodusquemine, aimed at combating heart disease. This initiative has been bolstered by a funding grant of just over £1 million from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
This funding is designated for a five-year programme and will facilitate obtaining essential data for the drug's progression into human clinical trials. Pre-clinical research builds upon studies conducted over the past decade.
In 2017, Trodusquemine demonstrated significant efficacy in mice, effectively reducing arterial fat and lowering "bad cholesterol." Subsequent human tests in 2023 involving healthy volunteers and individuals with artery diseases further indicated the drug's potential.
Professor Mirela Delibegovic highlighted that while still in early stages, encouraging results could lead to a new class of cholesterol-lowering treatments for patients with limited existing options, particularly those unresponsive to statins.
The project involves a collaborative effort with several UK universities, including Liverpool, Leeds, and Dundee, as well as European institutions in Copenhagen, Nantes, and Leiden. This international partnership aims to thoroughly investigate the drug's mechanisms and impact on severe cardiovascular disease.
