Mayo Clinic cardiology researchers have found a peptide that helps preserve and improve kidney function during heart failure, without affecting blood pressure. Earlier variations of this peptide caused blood pressure to drop limiting the potential benefits to the kidneys. The findings appear in the current Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“Heart failure itself and some of the approaches used to treat it can have detrimental effects on the kidneys,” says Mayo cardiologist and lead researcher Robert Simari, M.D. “Our hope is that this compound will help protect kidney function while you’re being treated, and possibly shorten your hospital stay and keep you out of the hospital.”
This new peptide (a unique link of amino acids) has been tested in the laboratory and in animal models and is expected to move into clinical trials next year.
Mayo Clinic and five of the investigators associated with this research have a financial interest in the technology studied in the research. In accordance with the Bayh-Dole Act, that technology has been licensed to Anexon. Mayo Clinic and Drs. R. Simari and Dr. S. Pan have received royalties from the licensing of that technology of greater than the federal threshold for significant financial interest. Drs. J.Burnett, M.Redfield and H.Chen have received royalties less than the federal threshold for significant financial interest. In addition, Mayo Clinic holds an equity position in Anexon.
Below is a link to an edited youtube video with Dr. Simari.
