BusinessWeek Article Highlights CardioVascular BioTherapeutics for Developing a Promising Protein Therapy to Treat Coronary Artery Disease
CardioVascular BioTherapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB:CVBT) today announced it is featured in a BusinessWeek Online article that highlights the race within the biotech industry to develop an angiogenesis treatment for patients with heart disease. Angiogenesis refers to the growth of new blood vessels that may help those suffering from coronary heart disease by alleviating the decreased blood flow associated with the disease. The article can be viewed at: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2007/tc2007075_25959 8.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_technology (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser’s address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
The article highlights CVBT as a company that “may be well ahead of the pack in developing an effective and economic angiogenic therapy — and setting new standards for cardiac care.” CVBT is focused on developing formulations of its active pharmaceutical ingredient Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 (FGF-1), which is a recombinant protein that stimulates new blood vessel growth. Quoting a study by The Bruckner Group, the article states that “the use of FGF-1 could save health-care insurers up to 20% of treatment costs for limited-option coronary artery disease patients over a five-year period after treatment.” CVBT’s development of FGF-1 represents a new and potentially cost effective approach to treating a disease that is devastating both to patients and the healthcare industry given the economic burden of current treatments.
“Given that more than 71 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, it is an important target for angiogenesis therapy as it offers a viable treatment to patients who may otherwise have no options,” said Dan Montano, CEO, CVBT. “CVBT is excited to be part of the growing research movement exploring new therapies for treatment of heart disease.”
CardioVascular BioTherapeutics is expected to begin a Phase II clinical trial of its drug candidate, CVBT-141A, later this year in patients with severe coronary heart disease.
About CardioVascular BioTherapeutics
CVBT is a biopharmaceutical company developing formulations of Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 (FGF-1) to treat a number of diseases characterized by inadequate blood flow to a tissue or organ. The Company is developing injectable and topical formulations of FGF-1 to facilitate angiogenesis in the heart, other organs and tissues. Enrollment and treatment has been completed in an FDA-authorized Phase I study with FGF-1 administered in patients with severe Coronary Heart Disease. A Phase II trial in a similar patient population is under FDA review and is planned to start this year. Additionally, CVBT is close to completion of a Phase I clinical trial for dermal diabetic and venous ulcer healing, where its drug candidate CVBT-141B (containing FGF-1) was applied topically. CVBT also has initiated a Phase I clinical trial using a third drug candidate, CVBT-141C, in patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.