Gene Therapy to “heal” Cardiovascular disorders!

Coronary artery disease, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the developed countries. Pharmacologic drugs and device therapies have multiple limitations, and there exists an unmet need for improved clinical outcomes without side effects. These limitation in currently available therapies have prompted extensive investigation into new treatment modalities and gene therapy has emerged as a viable alternative. The goal of gene therapy is to modify a gene or genetic pathway to provide therapeutic value and prevent or reduce disease.

About Gene Therapy

Gene therapy involves the transfer of genetic information into a patient to correct a congenital or acquired disorder. Despite the advances in conventional pharmacology, implantable devices and surgery, cardiovascular disorders remain one of the leading causes of mortality in contemporary societies accounting for half a million deaths per year in the United States. The overall deaths due to cardiovascular diseases accounts for 1 of every 3 deaths in America. Cardiac diseases can affect every age group, but prevalence is seen in patients 65 or older. There is an ongoing need to explore novel and more promising approaches targeting their pathobiology. Over the past decades, advancements in somatic gene transfer delivery have transformed cardiovascular gene therapy from a futuristic fantasy to a scientific reality.

Gene Therapy: Role in Cardiovascular disorders

With the rapid development of economy, urbanization and changing lifestyles, the number of people with cardiovascular diseases have increased globally. Therefore, there is a strong impetus for more effective treatment and prevention. Gene therapy, which was initially envisioned as a treatment strategy for inherited monogenic disorders, has emerged with broad therapeutic potential, including treatment of acquired polygenic diseases such as peripheral vascular disease, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. Sequencing information from the human genome and the development of gene transfer vectors and delivery systems have given researchers the tools to target specific genes and pathways that play a role in cardiovascular diseases. Thus, placing cardiovascular disorders within the reach of gene-based therapies. Current and possible candidates for gene therapy in the field of cardiovascular disorders include Critical Limb Ischemia, Coronary artery disease, Hypercholesterolemia and Congestive Heart Failure etc. However, efficient delivery to the target cells and sustained expression of transgenes are acting as limitations in this field. Inspite of this there is much optimism and confidence in the use gene therapy for treatment of cardiovascular disorders in the near future.

Gene Therapy: The Market Scenario

Many companies are investing in and researching on this field using gene therapy due to its promising effects. Large Pharmaceutical and Biotech giants, such as AnGes, uniQure biopharma, and Bio Sidus etc., are operating in the field of cardiovascular disorders in the gene therapy domain. A growing number of partnership between companies in drug development for example between The Medicines Company and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals etc., are driving the new gene therapy research. The industry’s collective pipeline is brimming with 300+ therapies for various therapeutic areas. The global market opportunities for gene therapy in the field of cardiovascular disorders have risen drastically due to improvement in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with heart failure and the development of vectors with cardiotropic properties. Gene therapy is now being considered as a viable adjunctive treatment to mechanical and pharmacological therapies for various cardiovascular disorders.

DelveInsight’s Gene Therapy Reports

DelveInsight’s Gene Therapy Reports cover the entire gene therapy market insights for cardiovascular disorders including technology assessments, licensing opportunities, collaborations, market trends, pipeline coverage and competitive landscape. The report essentially provides DelveInsight’s proprietary market and pipeline analytics which identifies the front runners in this therapeutic area. It also identifies the potential market movers and future regulatory landscape.