Structural Heart Disease

Structural heart diseases include any issues preventing normal cardiovascular function due to damage or alteration to the anatomical components of the heart. This is caused by aging, advanced atherosclerosis, calcification, tissue degeneration, congenital heart defects and heart failure. The most commonly treated areas are the heart valves, in particular the mitral and aortic valves. These can be replaced through open heart surgery or using cath lab-based transcatheter valves or repairs to eliminate regurgitation due to faulty valve leaflets. This includes transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Other common procedures include left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion and closing congenital holes in the heart, such as PFO and ASD. A growing area includes transcatheter mitral repair or replacement and transcatheter tricuspid valve repair and replacement.

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215 cardiovascular drugs under development

The drug development pipeline for cardiovascular medicines runneth over, according to a report by PhRMA. Still, that may translate into only a few new products.

Alzheimer’s drug may lower risk of MI, death

A pharmaceutical used to treat early-stage Alzheimer’s disease may help reduce the risk of MI and death, according to a study published June 5 in the European Heart Journal.

Bioengineered vein: A first in U.S.

Vascular surgeon Jeffrey H. Lawson, MD, PhD, implanted a bioengineered vein graft June 5 in a patient with end-stage kidney disease in a two-hour procedure at Duke University Hospital in Durham. The operation launches the U.S. trial of the human cell-based product that Lawson helped develop. If the bioengineered veins prove beneficial for hemodialysis patients, then they may try to develop a graft for heart bypass surgeries.

FDA advisers call for easing Avandia restrictions

The majority of panelists at an FDA meeting that revisited regulatory decisions made in 2010 recommended relaxing restrictions on the diabetes drug rosiglitazone.

Bariatric surgery improves risk factors but beware complications

Half of mild to moderately obese patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes who underwent gastric bypass surgery achieved diabetes management goals compared with less than one-fifth of counterparts who received lifestyle and medical management. But the bypass group also experienced more adverse events in the study, which was published online June 5 in JAMA.

AstraZeneca to buy lipid drug developer for $443M

AstraZeneca will pay up to $443 million to buy a pharmaceutical company that is developing a treatment for dyslipidemia.

FDA briefing holds sharp criticisms about Avandia review

The FDA released the agenda and background material for its controversial two-day meeting to readjudicate the diabetes drug rosiglitazone. The briefing materials, with criticisms from and about FDA officials and others, offered a preview to what may become a contentious event.

Avandia: The sequel

The New York Times set the stage for the upcoming FDA meeting that revisits GlaxoSmithKline’s diabetes drug, rosiglitazone (Avandia). The FDA said it is trying to “resolve uncertainty” about the drug, which has been limited based on concerns about heightened cardiovascular risk.   

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