The Prince Charles Hospital

Spider Venom-Inspired Drug Hi1a Advances to Clinical Trials for Heart Attack Treatment

8 months ago

• A drug derived from the venom of the K'gari funnel-web spider, Hi1a, is set to enter human clinical trials to treat heart attacks and protect donor hearts. • Hi1a has shown promise in preclinical studies by protecting heart tissue from damage caused by oxygen deprivation during heart attacks or donor heart retrieval. • The clinical trial, supported by $17.8 million in funding, will assess Hi1a's efficacy in improving patient survival, quality of life, and expanding the pool of viable donor hearts. • If successful, Hi1a could become the first drug to limit heart cell loss during an attack or protect donor hearts, addressing a significant unmet medical need.