Atlanta,
GA (March 15, 2006) -- Bone marrow-derived adult stem cells
administered within the heart (intramyocardial) and coronary artery
(intracoronary) tissues of heart disease patients improved patients' heart
function and blood flow, according to a pilot study presented during a poster
session at the 2006 American College of Cardiology Scientific Session. The
study also found that patients who received more stem cells experienced a
higher degree of cardiac improvement.
"The results of this adult stem cell study are encouraging news for patients
who suffer from serious coronary heart disease but additional clinical
investigation is necessary to confirm these findings," said Mariann Gyöngyösi,
M.D., Division of Cardiology, University of Vienna Medical Center, Vienna,
Austria. "This study is an important step forward in understanding the
potential role of adult stem cells in patients with ischemic heart disease."
Six months post-stem cell injection, patients had improved function at the
target study site of the left heart ventricle. Improvements included a 4.7
percent increase in the strength of the patient's heart contractions (ejection
fraction or EF) (34.8±7.9 percent to 39.5±6.7 percent; p=0.015) and an
increase in the movement of the inner heart wall during contraction (linear
local shortening or LLS) (5.14±2.90 percent to 6.21±1.66 percent; p=0.035).
Additionally, study participants experienced a 4.9 percent decrease in blood
flow problems (perfusion defects) after receiving a stress-inducing drug
(37.0±10.3 percent to 32.1±13.3 percent; p=0.088).
The study examined 17 patients who were considered unsuitable candidates for
conventional treatments such as coronary artery stenting or bypass surgery.
Utilizing the investigational MYOSTAR™ Injection Catheter, researchers
administered bone marrow-derived stem cells into patients’ left heart
ventricle, relying on the NOGA® System to help them accurately identify the
target injection site.
"The NOGA® System created highly precise, three-dimensional images of the
heart. These images gave us a clear 'map' that helped us to successfully
deliver the adult stem cells where we intended them to go," commented Dr.
Gyöngyösi. "This imaging technology was critical to making this study
possible."
A secondary study finding was that patients experienced higher degrees of
cardiac improvement as the number of stem cells administered within the
myocardial and coronary tissues increased. This was documented through
follow-up measures, including EF (p=0.01, r=0.709), LLS (p<0.05, r=0.628) and
stressed-induced (p=0.01, r=0.708) and resting (p<0.01, r=0.722) perfusion
defects.
Linear Local Shortening (LLS) was measured with the aid of NOGA® endocardial
mapping, a means of visualizing the motion of the inner heart wall by
recording its electrical signals. Additional follow-up methods included x-ray,
scintigraphy (a diagnostic procedure to create an image of a target organ by
giving the patient a radioactive agent known as a radionuclide) and
echocardiography (a diagnostic test to visualize the heart and its structures
using ultrasound waves).
"We are pleased that the NOGA® System was able to play such an important role
in exploring this new frontier of heart disease treatment," said Mark Martin,
global clinical manager, Biologics Delivery Systems Group, Cordis Corporation,
which distributes the NOGA® System. "This study is a prime example of our
commitment to giving physicians and researchers the innovative visualization
and delivery technologies they need to explore breakthrough treatments."
About the NOGA® System
The NOGA® Cardiac Navigation System is the most advanced technology currently
available on the market to create highly precise, three-dimensional images of
the heart. Based on these images, physicians are able to accurately identify
tissue that could benefit from a variety of targeted therapies. The NOGA® XP
Cardiac Navigation System is currently being used to map the heart in more
than 17 ongoing clinical studies worldwide, investigating the use of adult
stem cell and gene therapies to treat conditions such as congestive heart
failure and chronic ischemia.
The MYOSTAR™ Injection Catheter is not commercially available in the United
States and is used only under investigational protocols.
About Biologics Delivery Systems Group
Biologics Delivery
Systems Group, Cordis Corporation, is a leader in the emerging field of
biologics delivery, developing breakthrough technology in
targeted delivery across multiple disease states and clinical specialties.
Biologics Delivery Systems Group delivery technology is advancing the standard
of care by enabling physicians to identify and visualize optimal delivery
sites, and to precisely target single and multiple treatment sites.
About Cordis Corporation
Cordis Corporation, a Johnson & Johnson
company, is a worldwide leader in developing and manufacturing interventional
vascular technology. Through the
company's innovation, research and development, physicians worldwide are
better able to treat the millions of patients who suffer from vascular disease.