Old Drug Could Be New Healing Aid for Heart Attack Victims

By Huey Freeman

Researchers found through animal testing that a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis may help heart attack victims recover.

In the study, published on Aug. 26 in the Nature Cardiovascular Research journal, mice were injected daily with the multiple sclerosis drug glatiramer acetate after they underwent heart attacks. Mice that were treated had less heart damage and scarring, ultrasounds revealed. More blood was sent through large arteries with each heartbeat, supplying blood to vital organs.

Dr. Rachel Sarig, a research scientist and study leader, said this widely used drug suppresses inflammation.

“As the immune system is known to play crucial roles during heart repair, I thought that Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) might have a beneficial effect on the healing process,” Sarig told The Epoch Times.

Sarig said she was surprised to find that the drug had such a strong impact on blood flow, a key element in recovery.

“We thought it would have a beneficial effect, but we didn’t expect such a robust effect,” she said.

The researchers said their findings showed that glatiramer acetate is a “promising drug for clinical trials aimed at treating heart conditions,” and a phase 2 clinical trial is underway, according to a statement.

Medication Helps Days Later

The researchers also found that glatiramer acetate, branded Copaxone and Glatopa, reduced scarring and improved heart function in mice even when treatment began 24 to 48 hours after the heart attack.

The researchers reported that this was a significant finding because heart attack victims do not always seek medical help right away.

There was a reduced scar area in the heart muscles of the treated mice. They only had small, insignificant scars, while mice in the control group that were untreated had large scars covering 30 percent or more of their left ventricles. Scar tissue reduces the heart’s ability to contract effectively and pump blood.

The researchers said drug repurposing is an attractive alternative to developing new therapeutics because of the substantial cost and slow pace of production of new drugs.

In another experiment in the study stage, rats were left untreated for a longer length of time after the heart attack. The treatment for one group began almost one month after the events, with the rats diagnosed with chronic heart failure, while the control group receiving no treatment.

Rats were treated for two months with glatiramer acetate. After their treatments, the rats were pumping blood at a rate of 30 percent higher with each beat, while the ability of the ventricles to contract improved by nearly 60 percent. The heart’s ability to contract is important because it is a measure of its ability to pump blood throughout the body.

The mice and rats used in these studies did not die, but only suffered from impaired heart functions, Sarig said.

Although animal studies do not necessarily translate well to human studies, mice and rats are the preferred species for biomedical research animal models due to their anatomical, physiological, and genetic similarity to humans, according to a study published in the Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association. Humans are genetically similar to rats and mice, sharing about 95 percent of the same DNA.

Hope for Release of Repurposed Medication

One of the most surprising effects of glatiramer acetate for the researchers was that it directly protects the heart muscle cells.

Sarig said cell death occurs when blood flow to specific heart areas is disrupted.

“Copaxone helps the existing cells to survive and contract effectively, enhances the production of blood vessels that supply them and delays the creation of scar tissue,” Sarig said.

With the expiration of the patent for Copaxone, there are several generic versions of the drug on the market. It has been difficult for the researchers to find someone in the pharmaceutical industry to help them continue their research.

“Without exclusive licensing, it becomes a less attractive investment for pharma companies, despite its potential to help millions globally and significantly boost revenue,” Sarig said.

Sarig said she is determined to produce and market this repurposed medication.

“The approval process for repurposed drugs is also faster and simpler compared to the development of new drugs, as evidenced by recent approvals like Colchicine for reducing cardiovascular events in patients with established cardiovascular disease,” she said. “We will try to raise funds from potential donors, and we may explore options to slightly modify the composition of GA or develop a combined treatment that could be patented. However, the faster approach would be to use the existing approved substance.”

The research was supported by the Sagol Institute for Longevity Research; the Helen and Martin Kimmel Institute for Stem Cell Research; and the Gabriella Schmidt Research Fellow Chair. The study’s authors declared no conflicts of interest.