Treatment Can Repair Heart Damaged by Diabetes

A study has shown that six months' treatment with an orally active small molecule was able to bring about a significant reduction toward normal heart size in diabetic patients with enlarged hearts.

Heart disease is the major cause (65%) of death in people with diabetes. The research demonstrated that the defective metabolism of copper in people with diabetes is implicated in the development of heart disease. In preclinical models and phase II human clinical trials, the orally active molecule increased the urinary output of copper compared with untreated controls. In prelinical models, the molecule reversed heart failure, and damaged hearts were substantively regenerated.

The small molecule compound, called Laszarin, was developed by Protemix Corp.(Aukland, New Zealand). Researchers there demonstrated that defective metabolism of copper in people with diabetes is a factor in the development of heart disease. Laszarin is designed to remove excess copper from the body.

"The next step is to investigate this novel treatment, which is the first in its class, in Phase III trials,” said Professor Garth Cooper, of Protemix Corp. (Aukland, New Zealand), who along with Dr. John Baker led the research.




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