A means to make the heart work better.
DESCRIPTION
A biotechnology company that addresses the leading cause of death in the US: heart disease and heart failure. With a novel biological therapy that significantly improves overall cardiac performance in patients suffering from heart failure by fostering the body’s innate regenerative capacities, this intervention method is new and unique. The company is able to differentiate itself from competitors as it takes advantage of natural processes to stimulate the cardiac tissue as opposed to commonly used drugs, which are non-specific and therefore cause collateral effects such as the build up of non-functional precursors and increased urination. Founded on a fundamental discovery, the company has pioneered a treatment that strengthens cardiac muscle contraction by employing a derivative of the essential human energetic unit known as Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), which has impacts in both prevention and treatment. With the growing problem of cardiovascular health in the U.S. and abroad, such an option meets an urgent need of healthcare professionals.
PROBLEM ADDRESSED
Heart disease, and subsequent heart failure, is the leading cause of death in the United States. 5.1 million people currently living in the US suffer from heart failure, and approximately half of these people will die within 5 years. It is estimated that 400,000 to 700,000 new cases of heart failure are diagnosed each year in the United States alone. Common medical treatments to overcome heart failure include Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, diuretics, blood vessel dilators, aldactone inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and finally heart pump medications. Despite the widespread use of these varying options, 25% of those living with some heart failure condition die within the first year, and only 50% survive more than 5 years.
MARKET
26 million people worldwide survive after suffering from heart failure. The market for heart disease therapeutics was $3 B in 2005 and grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 4.5% to reach $4.1 B in 2010. Further growth estimates predict a market share of $5.1 B by 2018.
TECHNOLOGY
The founders’ discovery employs a novel biological agent for therapeutic use by raising the production of DeoxyAdenosine Triphosphate (dATP) in the metabolic synthesis of ATP. Essentially, the heart’s natural processes are being stimulated, which differs from drug intervention that inhibits natural function and introduces corollary side effects thanks to the non-specific nature of alternative treatment options. The end result of this is an increase in the dATP-to-ATP ratio that simultaneously improves heart contraction and muscle relaxation. Since dATP lacks one hydroxyl group that ATP has and is a smaller overall compound, it diffuses faster through the cellular gap junctions and in turn, there is a more rapid release of myosin and a faster relaxation stroke of the heart muscle. With that, each heartbeat is stronger and more effective. Although more clinical results are necessary, our client’s approach shows great promise to decrease the rate of incidence of heart failure from both prevention and treatment perspectives.
UPSIDE OPPORTUNITY
It has obtained exclusive, worldwide rights to a strong IP portfolio and envisions a sizable share of the projected $20 B market in 2016.
FINANCING
The client has successfully raised $3 MM in angel round and plans to raise an additional $20 MM in Series A. The A round can be broken into 2 tranches of $8 MM and $12 MM to get through human clinical trials.
OF NOTE
Early pre–clinical results have shown marked improvements in cell contraction in rats. The experimental data indicates that an increase in dATP from 0.1 % to 2 % has a significant effect on contractility. In addition, computer modeling results show a strong interaction between a protein residue and dATP in the myosin binding pocket.
CLICK HERE FOR THE CEO INTERVIEW