Researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) are advancing a novel drug, Hi1a, derived from the venom of the K'gari funnel-web spider, into clinical trials for heart attack treatment and donor heart protection. The project, backed by $17.8 million in funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), aims to evaluate Hi1a's potential to prevent heart damage caused by oxygen deprivation during heart attacks and improve the viability of donor hearts.
Hi1a: A Novel Cardioprotective Agent
Hi1a is a peptide found in the venom of the K'gari funnel-web spider. Preclinical studies have demonstrated its ability to protect the heart from damage sustained due to lack of oxygen during a heart attack or donor heart retrieval. According to Professor Glenn King from UQ's Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), Hi1a works by blocking acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a), a tiny passageway that allows substances to move in and out of cells, preventing heart tissue from becoming too acidic during a heart attack.
Clinical Trial Design and Objectives
The four-year clinical trial will assess a miniaturized version of Hi1a as a drug to treat heart attack and protect donor hearts during the retrieval process. The research team includes experts from UQ, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, the Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, and clinicians from St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, and The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane.
The primary objective is to determine if Hi1a can improve patient survival and quality of life, expand the pool of donor hearts available for transplantation, and reduce healthcare costs. Associate Professor Nathan Palpant, who led the preclinical studies, emphasized the significant impact a successful drug could have, given that coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia, with almost 60,000 Australians hospitalized with a heart attack each year and 7,000 not surviving.
Addressing Unmet Needs in Cardiac Care
Currently, there is no drug specifically designed to limit the loss of heart cells during a heart attack or to protect donor hearts. Hi1a aims to fill this critical gap in cardiac care. The drug's mechanism involves blocking signals that trigger cell death due to oxygen shortage, a process that occurs both during heart attacks and in donor hearts during retrieval.
Future Implications
If the clinical trials are successful, Hi1a could revolutionize the treatment of heart attacks and improve the availability of donor hearts for transplantation. The research team hopes to make the treatment available to first responders for immediate administration to patients experiencing a heart attack. Furthermore, the drug's potential to protect donor hearts could alleviate the severe worldwide shortage of organs for transplantation.
The project also involves Infensa Bioscience, a Brisbane-based biotech company, where Professor King is Chief Scientific Officer and Dr. Palpant is Head of Biology, highlighting the collaborative effort to bring this innovative treatment to market.
