AnaCardio is developing novel inotropic agents that enhance cardiomyocyte contractility through the ghrelin signaling pathway, aiming to improve cardiac output without increasing oxygen consumption or mortality. This approach addresses the unmet need for effective treatments that target impaired contractility in heart failure patients, potentially improving organ function and quality of life.
Funding
$44.2M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
NHPBFounders
Product
Problem
Heart failure, affecting millions globally, impairs the heart's ability to pump blood effectively, leading to reduced organ function and high mortality rates. Current treatments primarily address disease progression and symptoms, but do not target the underlying issue of impaired cardiac contractility. Existing inotropic agents can increase cardiac output but often cause adverse effects such as ischemia and increased mortality.
Solution
AnaCardio is developing novel, orally available inotropic agents designed to enhance cardiomyocyte contractility through the ghrelin signaling pathway. These agents aim to improve cardiac output without the adverse effects associated with current inotropes, such as increased oxygen consumption, tachycardia, arrhythmia, ischemia, or hypotension. By increasing cardiomyocyte contractility and force, AnaCardio's approach seeks to improve organ function, quality of life, and functional capacity, while reducing the risk of hospitalization and death in heart failure patients. The lead program, AC01, is a ghrelin peptidomimetic small-molecule being developed as a contractile agent for heart failure patients. AC01 has completed Phase 1b trials, demonstrating safety and tolerability, and is advancing to Phase 2a studies to assess longer-term effects in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with heart failure, particularly those with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and the healthcare providers who treat them, including cardiologists and heart failure specialists.
Features
- AC01: An orally available ghrelin peptidomimetic small-molecule
- Unique mode-of-action based on the ghrelin signalling pathway
- Designed to increase cardiomyocyte contractility and force
- Aims to improve cardiac output without adverse effects on O2 consumption or mortality
- Phase 1b trials completed, demonstrating safety and tolerability
- Advancing to Phase 2a studies in patients with HFrEF