Cardio3 BioSciences, a leading Belgian biotechnology company specialising in cell-based therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, announced today promising results in a pre-clinical study of its proprietary C-Cath(R) catheter which is under development to administer a range of bio-therapeutics to the heart. C-Cath is designed to take into account organ tissue structure and properties to maximize patients' safety, improve performance and increase user confidence during the injection procedure.
The study was a head-to-head comparison between the current 'gold standard' injection catheter and C-Cath in injecting mesenchymal stem cells originating from bone marrow in an animal model widely used in cardiology studies. The study was carried out by a renowned clinical research organization in Canada.
The study results indicated a close to three fold increase in retention of cells within the heart muscle when using C-Cath. Within a clinical setting, an increased retention rate would allow the reduction of the administered dose while increasing the potency of the product, thereby increasing efficacy and reducing side effects. The cost of therapy could also be reduced through lower required doses. C-Cath's performance is based on its unique needle design which aims at increasing patient's safety, improving penetration and retention in the target tissue and enhancing fluid dynamics.
Dr Christian Homsy, CEO of Cardio3 BioSciences said: "While the key focus for Cardio3 BioSciences remains our unique stem cell treatment for heart failure, C-Cure, which is in clinical trials, today's announcement marks an important new step for the company towards its broader goal of becoming a leader in regenerative therapies for the treatment of heart diseases."
This latest study builds on earlier research showing C-Cath improves the retention of microparticles and a range of cell types at the injection site and is the final stage in pre-clinical development of the product. Cardio3 BioSciences will now further develop the C-Cath technology and advance the product towards regulatory approval as a Medical Device in Europe (CE Mark). Ultimately, C-Cath would potentially be used with C-Cure, an autologous stem cell-based therapy developed to help heal damaged heart tissue, and further Cardio3 BioSciences products in development such as allogeneic and protein therapeutics. C-Cath would also present an attractive delivery technology for a range of therapies in the cardiovascular and potentially other fields.
C-Cath was developed by Cardio3 BioSciences scientists and their clinical partners at the Cardiovascular Center in Aalst, Belgium. The work was supported by grants from the Walloon Region (DG06).
UBC researchers develop coating to make medical devices safer for patients