Repurposing Dabuzalgron to Prevent and Treat Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure

Invention Novelty

Using an alpha-1A-adrengic receptor agonist, dabuzalgron, as a therapeutic treatment for cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

Value Proposition

As potentially debilitating and life-threatening conditions, cardiomyopathy and heart failure (HF) are major medical problems worldwide. In the US alone, nearly 6 million people suffer from HF. As the incidence of these diseases increases with age, the burden of these diseases will likely only increase as elderly populations continue to grow. Around 1 million American patients are hospitalized with HF each year and current treatment options are ineffective in keeping these patients out of the hospital as readmission rates within 6 months of discharge remain high.

This new treatment improves upon current cardiomyopathy and heart failure drugs in several ways, including:

• Does not cause low blood pressure, a common side effect of currently available drugs
• Prevents heart muscle cell death and repairs injury

Additionally, this drug is attractive to develop for heart disease as it is:

• Administered in a quantity that is measurable in the blood, which is clinically useful
• Has completed pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies
• Already tested in humans for a genitourinary indication

Technology Description

Dr. Paul Simpson Jr. at University of California, San Francisco and Dr. Brain C Jensen at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill  have identified and developed a new indication for dabuzalgron: prevention and treatment of cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Dabuzalgron is an alpha-1A-adrenergic receptor agonist that can stimulate smooth muscle contraction in higher doses; however, in this invention, the drug is used at doses below those found to have an effect on smooth muscle contraction and blood pressure. These researchers have shown that dabuzalgron leads to a variety of beneficial intracellular processes in heart muscle cells, including mechanisms that protect the cell from injury or death. Dabuzalgron also could be used to protect the heart from cancer-induced cardiomyopathy.

Looking for Partners

To develop & commercialize the technology as a novel heart disease therapeutic

Stage of Development

Preclinical

Related Materials

• In progress

Data Availability

Animal data available under CDA/NDA

Patent Status