ANGIOGENESIS: Results of Phase 1 Chiron Trial are Encouraging

NEW ORLEANS -- "A single intracoronary (IC) dose of recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2 (rFGF-2) was safe over a wide range of doses and associated with decreased angina frequency, increased exercise tolerance and improved regional left ventricular (LV) function and perfusion by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)," according an abstract being presented at this week's American College of Cardiology meeting. Researchers from Emory University and Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, evaluated the safety of rFGF in 52 persons with severe coronary artery disease during the Phase I trial for Chiron Corp.

Fibroblast growth factors are proteins that trigger new microvessel growth.

The goal of this and similar studies is to test the hypothesis that formation of new vessels ­ a process known as angiogenesis ­ can nourish and revive heart muscle damaged by coronary artery disease, says Spencer B. King III, M.D., president of the American College of Cardiology, co-investigator of this study and director of the Andreas Gruentzig Cardiovascular Research Center at the Emory University School of Medicine.

Researchers administered rFGF directly into ischemic regions of the heart muscle during cardiac catheterization.

The Emory team has begun Phase II of the Chiron study, which will compare rFGF vs. placebo in patients with severe coronary artery disease.