Study to examine use of snake venom peptide for MI treatment

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic’s Cardiorenal Research Laboratory were awarded a $2.5 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to study the effects of cenderitide, a designer peptide derived from the venom of the green mamba snake, on the preservation of cardiac and renal function after an MI or acute decompensated HF.

Cenderitide, a novel, engineered guanylyl cyclase activator, was developed by researchers at Mayo Clinic to activate two different types of guanylyl cyclase receptors, according to a press release.

Data presented by Fernando Martin, MD, a research fellow in the Cardiorenal Research Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, at the American Heart Association’s 2011 Scientific Sessions demonstrate the ability of cenderitide to prevent the death of heart cells.

The new NHLBI grant will support basic research in the laboratory and a small proof-of-concept clinical study to determine whether cenderitide could help prevent deterioration of cardiac and renal function after an MI and potentially reduce further HF in the future in treated patients. Researchers plan to enroll 60 patients into the study at Mayo Clinic sites in Rochester, Minn., and Jacksonville, Fla. Study endpoints include safety, 30-day cardiac function, circulating hormone levels and other cardiorenal biomarkers.

Mayo Clinic licensed cenderitide to Nile Therapeutics. The company is currently developing the peptide as a 90-day, outpatient treatment to prevent hospital readmissions after acute decompensated HF events in a study that received a fast-track Investigational New Drug approval from the FDA, according to the press release.