Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body requires. This ineffective pumping can lead to enlargement of the heart as the myocardium works harder pump the same amount of blood. Heart failure may be caused by defects in the myocardium, such as an a heart attack infarct, or due to structural issues such as severe heart valve regurgitation. Heart failure can be divided into HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The disease is further divided into four New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes. Stage IV heart failure is when the heart is completely failing and requires a heart transplant or hemodynamic support from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

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OHSU reinstates heart transplant program

Oregon Health & Science University will resume its heart transplant services this month after nearly a year of inactivity, the university announced Aug. 26.

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Istaroxime fast-tracked as potential therapy for acute HFrEF

Istaroxime, a dual action, luso-inotropic agent that’s still in clinical development, was granted fast-track designation by the FDA this month as a possible treatment for HFrEF.

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FDA approves Barostim Neo to treat HF symptoms

The FDA on August 16 granted breakthrough designation to CVRx Inc.’s Barostim Neo System, a device meant to improve heart failure symptoms in patients unsuited for other therapies like CRT. 

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Renovacor raises $11M to advance gene therapy for dilated cardiomyopathy

Biopharmaceutical company Renovacor, Inc., on August 14 announced it had raised $11 million in Series A financing to further develop its gene therapy-based treatments for CVD.

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Novartis HF drug sacubitril/valsartan fails trial

Swiss drugmaker Novartis on July 29 announced its combo sacubitril/valsartan drug Entresto “narrowly missed” its primary endpoint in the Phase III PARAGON-HF study, throwing into question the future of a blockbuster drug.

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Global study connects cancer, takotsubo cardiomyopathy

A study published July 17 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has revealed a strong link between cancer and takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or “broken heart syndrome.”

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Methamphetamine abuse exacerbates HF in growing number of veterans

Methamphetamine abuse is on the rise among veterans with concomitant heart failure, according to a recent analysis published in the American Journal of Cardiology. 

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Malleable polymers could contribute to development of artificial hearts

Researchers in Italy are developing “smart,” photo-responsive materials they hope will replicate the mechanical properties of a human heart in an artificial format, Cosmos Magazine reported July 12.

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Around the web

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