Heart failure

Heart failure happens when the heart becomes too weak or stiff to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This leads to tiredness, shortness of breath, and fluid build-up that can make everyday activities difficult. Despite current therapies, heart failure keeps getting worse over time, and no treatment today can repair the damaged heart muscle and actually cure this disease.

• Globally, over 60 million people live with heart failure.
• The number of people with heart failure is expected to grow sharply as more people live longer and as obesity and type 2 diabetes remain common.
• By 2030, more than 1 in 10 people over 65 in Western countries may have this condition.
• In developed countries, about 1–2 % of adults are affected.
• Heart failure is one of the leading causes of hospital admissions in people over age 65.

Genetic medicines inducing cardiac angiogenesis

Therapeutic repair of the cardiac microvasculature has emerged as a novel approach for treating coronary artery disease, and genetic medicines offer a promising way to enable the heart to repair itself after damage. By using small pieces of RNA (microRNAs) specific for the heart, we can “turn on” the body’s natural ability to grow new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. By improving blood flow and oxygen delivery, they support the repair and recovery of weakened heart tissue. We are now exploring how these natural signals can be turned into new treatments to help failing hearts heal from within.

By integrating novel targeted RNA delivery systems, we aim to enable a durable and minimally invasive treatment that reverses coronary artery disease and delays heart failure progression, reduces hospitalizations, and ultimately improves survival and quality of life.