Bar Harbor Company Gets $1.5 Million to Test Heart Attack Drug in Pigs
A regenerative medicine company in Bar Harbor received a $1.5 million grant to further its research on treating patients who have suffered acute heart attacks.
Novo Biosciences, a spinoff of the MDI Biological Laboratory, received the two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health.
The proven safety of MSI-1436 in early-stage clinical trials significantly decreases the time and expense associated with developing the drug as a potential treatment for heart attack, he added.
Studies will be conducted in collaboration with scientists from the Louisiana State University Health Science Center Cardiovascular Center of Excellence in New Orleans. If MSI-1436 is effective in pigs, Novo Biosciences will seek an FDA authorization to conduct clinical trials in heart attack patients. It will also seek financing to move the drug through the clinical trial process, said scientist Yoot Vin in the release.
The company’s work was lauded by Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins, who issued a joint statement.
“Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in America and affects thousands of Mainers every year. It is critical that we continue to support research that tests new and innovative therapies to prevent heart attacks and treat the damage they cause,” they said. “By further advancing the science behind cardiovascular disease and healing mechanisms, we can help save lives and improve the health of our communities.”