Repurposing an anti-cancer agent to treat heart failure

A novel method for the prevention and treatment of heart failure, using αvβ3- and αvβ5-integrin targeting agents. The method has been shown to promote normal cardiac angiogenesis, endothelial cell activation and cardiomyocyte function in diseased hearts.

Heart failure affects 26 million people worldwide, with a 5-year mortality rate of 50%. There is no existing therapy to prevent disease progression for patients at risk. Meanwhile, indefinitely administrating current drugs increases the risk of side effects whilst offering no long-term benefit.

Queen Mary scientists have identified a method of preventing or treating vascular conditions or heart failure.

The invention comprises the administration of an αvβ3- and/or αvβ5-integrin targeting agent to the patient, to promote normal cardiac angiogenesis, endothelial cell activation and cardiomyocyte function. These effects were demonstrated by repurposing cilengitide, an anti-cancer Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) mimetic that targets αvβ3 integrin.

The invention is also expected to be useful in therapies for other conditions involving malfunctioning vasculature where αvβ3- and/or αvβ5- integrins can be targeted similarly to activate endothelial cells and promote normal angiogenesis and vascular function. The treatment is given at low dose providing a potential treatment with long term efficacy for heart failure.

A patent claiming the use of this methodology has been filed.