Embolic Stroke

Sept. 17, 2024 -- Endomimetics, the developer of Bionanomatrix™, a peptide-based biomaterial to promote healing and improve outcomes following medical device implantation and other procedures, today announced the awarding of a $2.8 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to support research to evaluate the potential of Bionanomatrix™ to improve performance of flow diverters used in the treatment of brain aneurysms. This application of Bionanomatrix™ is one of several in development that provide further evidence of the broad utility of Bionanomatrix™ to improve performance and patient outcomes of implantable medical devices. The Phase II SBIR grant provides funding to support research for (1) manufacturing process scale up and optimization including long term stability of the Bionanomatrix™ coating and packaging validation and (2) assessment of two- and six-month efficacy and safety of the Bionanomatrix™ coating in a rabbit aneurysm model. Under the grant, Endomimetics will collaborate with Ramanathan Kadirvel, Ph.D., and David Kallmes, M.D., both professors of Radiology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, to evaluate the Bionanomatrix™ coating for flow diverters in the brain. “Brain aneurysms carry the devastating risk of rupture, leading to death or permanent disability,” said Joseph Garner, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Endomimetics. “Flow diverters, commonly used to treat aneurysms, maintain a risk of thromboembolic complications until endothelialization and aneurysm closure has occurred. Use of anti-clotting medications to reduce the risk of clot formation place patients at increased risk of bleeding during the several months required to achieve endothelial healing. Application of the Bionanomatrix™ coating to flow diverters could accelerate endothelialization and reduce the risk of embolic stroke or brain hemorrhage and improve patient outcomes. If this research is successful, we plan to partner the technology with a flow diverter manufacturer and begin IND Enabling studies and clinical development.” Approximately 3% of the population has unruptured cerebral aneurysms or approximately six million people in the U.S. About 30,000 aneurysms rupture each year, with devastating consequences. About 40% of patients with ruptured aneurysms die, and four of seven who survive have significant disabilities. To address this issue, several devices have been developed that can be implanted to prevent aneurysm rupture, such as flow diverters, which are increasingly being used to cover the neck of the aneurysm providing more durable occlusion. However, until endothelialization and aneurysm occlusion has occurred patients are at increased risk of thromboembolic complications and increased intracranial hemorrhage due to treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy. The Bionanomatrix™ coating mimics the characteristic properties of native endothelium. The addition of the Bionanomatrix ™ to the flow diverter is anticipated to enhance endothelial coverage and accelerate aneurysm closure with the goal of reducing post treatment adverse events. The coating provides sustained release of nitric oxide, thus recruiting and retaining endothelial cells and reducing inflammation. It also incorporates an endothelial cell adhesive ligand that promotes endothelial cell retention and migration. Endomimetics is a privately held Company founded to develop applications for its proprietary BionanomatrixTM technology. The BionanomatrixTM, invented by bioengineering scientists and physicians at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB), is a peptide-based coating that can be engineered to perform a variety of functions, which may have broad application in medical device implantation and other surgical procedures. Endomimetics’ plans to develop different applications through the preclinical stage and then partner with medical device companies whose technology could benefit from BionanomatrixTM. The Company’s lead indication is the AVF GEL, which is designed to improve the maturation of arteriovenous fistulas. Other indications include coatings on stents and angioplasty balloons, dental direct pulp capping (DPC) and flow diverters. Additional information may be found on the Company’s website https://endomimetics.com/. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, created in 1982 through the Small Business Innovation Development Act and reauthorized in 2011, is one of the largest public–private partnerships in the United States. The SBIR program encourages U.S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees to provide quality research and to develop new processes, products and technologies in support of the missions of the U.S. government. Administered by DHS S&T, the DHS SBIR Program, supports a full spectrum of SBIR initiatives serving all components. The content above comes from the network. if any infringement, please contact us to modify.

Funding supports commercial expansion of inHEART's digital twin of the heart in the US, EU, Asia Pacific, and Middle East markets, as well as the development of new software solutions across the cardiac care continuum CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and BORDEAUX, France, May 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- inHEART, a medical device company delivering the world's most advanced, AI-driven digital twin of the heart, has raised $11M to drive commercial growth of its therapeutic software solution for cardiac ablation procedures and advance the development of its predictive cardiac models for heart failure, sudden cardiac death, and cardio-embolic stroke. Continue Reading inHEART - Digital Twin of the Heart The financing was led by Vesalius Biocapital IV and co-led by Elaia Partners with participation from NACO, Sagana, Sofia Angel Ventures, CWR Funds, and Webit Investment Network. In addition, inHEART received funds from a successful crowdequity campaign on Tudigo and from the UK impact fund Astorg Foundation. "We welcome this strong international group of investors to our latest round of financing," said Todor Jeliaskov, Chairman and CEO of inHEART. "This new round allows us to go further in addressing the needs of cardiac patients from early screening and disease detection through advanced therapeutic support. It's exciting for us to be at the forefront of transforming the healthcare industry with the power of AI technology by improving the efficiency of care, quality of decision-making, and effectiveness and safety of medical interventions." "We are enthusiastic to continue our support and co-lead this financing round for inHEART," said Samantha Jérusalmy, board member at inHEART and Partner at Elaia. "inHEART's AI-driven 3D cardiac mapping enables unprecedented precision in targeting and treating arrhythmias, setting new standards in the treatment of heart conditions." "At Vesalius Biocapital IV, we're dedicated to supporting advancements in medical technology that improve patient care." said Jean-Christophe Renondin, Managing Partner at Vesalius Biocapital IV. "inHEART's AI-driven solutions exemplify the future of cardiac care, offering personalized therapy options and predictive models that can enhance clinical outcomes and streamline treatment processes. We're excited to contribute to inHEART's journey as they revolutionize cardiac care and address global healthcare needs with cutting-edge technology and innovation." Optimizing cardiac care inHEART's current therapeutic solution addresses the challenges of conventional cardiac ablations. The inHEART solution creates highly detailed, interactive 3D heart models with proprietary AI-driven cardiac CT or MR image segmentation. These 3D models of the heart allow physicians to optimize treatment strategies based on each patient's unique cardiac anatomy and to support pre-procedural planning for faster ablation procedures and improved clinical outcomes. AI-driven predictive models Financing from this round will also support the development of new product verticals for AI-driven predictive software models for sudden cardiac death and cardio-embolic stroke, as well as a new therapeutic software solution to help physicians treat heart failure patients. Currently, inHEART is commercially available in the US and EU through a direct sales force model, with plans to establish a global distribution network in the coming months to further accelerate growth. About inHEART inHEART is delivering the world's first AI-driven, digital twin of the heart to advance the care of patients living with cardiac disease. We are committed to addressing the needs of the cardiac care continuum by providing personalized therapy in a predictive manner for screening and early detection of cardiac diseases. At inHEART, we believe all patients deserve access to world-class cardiac imaging expertise to optimize treatment strategies, improve clinical outcomes, and return patients to full, healthy lives. For more information, visit inheartmedical.com Logo -

Researchers have developed a new way of identifying patients at risk of an irregular heartbeat, known as 'atrial fibrillation'. While not life threatening, the condition increases people's risk of having a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or stroke by up to five times. A new study reveals four specific factors that can predict which patients will have atrial fibrillation. These include older age, higher diastolic blood pressure and problems with both the coordination and function of the upper left chamber of the heart. The team went on to create an easy tool for doctors to use in practice to identify those at high risk. And they hope that this will help diagnose and treat more patients, reducing their risk of future strokes. Researchers at the University of East Anglia have developed a new way of identifying patients at risk of an irregular heartbeat, known as 'atrial fibrillation'. While not life threatening, the condition increases people's risk of having a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or stroke by up to five times. A new study, published today, reveals four specific factors that can predict which patients will have atrial fibrillation. These include older age, higher diastolic blood pressure and problems with both the coordination and function of the upper left chamber of the heart. The team went on to create an easy tool for doctors to use in practice to identify those at high risk. And they hope that this will help diagnose and treat more patients, reducing their risk of future strokes. Lead researcher Prof Vassilios Vassiliou, from UEA's Norwich Medical School and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: "Identifying who is at high risk and more likely to develop atrial fibrillation is very important. "This is because it requires specific treatment with anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners, to reduce the risk of future strokes. "Patients who have had a stroke usually undergo multiple investigations to determine the cause of the stroke, as this can influence the treatment they receive long-term. "These investigations include prolonged monitoring of the heart rhythm with a small implantable device called a loop recorder, and an ultrasound of the heart, called an echocardiogram." The research team collected data from 323 patients across the East of England, treated at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who had had a stroke with no cause identified- known as Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source. They analysed medical records as well as data from prolonged heart rhythm monitoring. They also studied their echocardiograms. Prof Vassiliou said: "We determined how many of these patients were found to have atrial fibrillation up to three years following their stroke, and went on to perform a thorough assessment to identify if there are specific parameters that are connected with atrial fibrillation identification. "We identified four parameters that were linked with the development of atrial fibrillation, which were consistently present in patients that had this arrhythmia. We then developed a model that can be used to predict who will show atrial fibrillation in the next three years, and is therefore at increased risk of another stroke in the future." "This is a very easy tool that any doctor can use in clinical practice," he added. "And it can potentially help doctors provide more targeted and effective treatment to these patients, ultimately aiming to highlight the people at higher risk of this arrhythmia that can benefit from prolonged heart rhythm monitoring and earlier anticoagulation to prevent a future stroke." This research was led by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Cambridge, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and the University of Newcastle. 'Atrial Fibrillation in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source: Role of advanced imaging of left atrial function' is published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology and simultaneously presented at theEuropean Society of Cardiology in Amsterdam.