CardioExchange Archive

March 22nd, 2012

Promising Phase 1 Results for New Monoclonal Antibody to PCSK9

Larry Husten, PHD

Promising results from very early studies with an experimental new cholesterol-lowering drug, a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9, have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Evan Stein and colleagues report the results of two single-dose studies in which the drug, REGN727, was administered intravenously or subcutaneously to healthy subjects. In a third, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial, […]

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March 20th, 2012

Meta-Analysis Adds New Evidence for Cancer Benefits of Daily Aspirin

Larry Husten, PHD

Although daily aspirin was originally proposed to reduce cardiovascular events, aspirin’s effects on cancer have become increasingly apparent while the vascular benefits, especially in primary prevention, have become less clear. Now a meta-analysis in the Lancet adds important new details to our understanding about the effects of aspirin and increases the evidence in support of a long-term beneficial […]

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March 19th, 2012

Questions Raised About Antiplatelet Therapy in Chronic Kidney Disease

Larry Husten, PHD

Many people develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) as they grow older, and many people with CKD take antiplatelet agents to prevent cardiovascular events. However, the efficacy of antiplatelet therapy in CKD has not been examined, despite the fact that people with CKD are more likely to die from nonatherosclerotic conditions and are more likely to […]

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March 19th, 2012

Merck Drops Development of Oral Vernakalant for Atrial Fibrillation

Larry Husten, PHD

Merck has discontinued its development of oral vernakalant for the long-term prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. Cardiome Pharma, Merck’s partner in the drug, said today that the “decision was based on Merck’s assessment of the regulatory environment and projected development timeline.” Merck and Cardiome will continue their partnership with the intravenous formulation of vernakalant, Brinavess, […]

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March 15th, 2012

Strongest Evidence to Date for Causative Role of Inflammation in Heart Disease

Larry Husten, PHD

Two large new meta-analyses published in the Lancet provide the first strong evidence demonstrating a cause-effect relationship between a specific inflammatory protein and the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Both studies illuminate the role of interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R) by focusing on the common Asp358Ala variant of the IL6R gene. The variant is known to dampen the inflammatory effect […]

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March 14th, 2012

Achieving CLOSURE: Final Act of PFO Closure Device Trial

Larry Husten, PHD

Nine years after getting underway, results of the CLOSURE 1 trial of PFO closure for cryptogenic stroke are finally published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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March 14th, 2012

Angioplasty Pioneer Geoffrey Hartzler Dead at 65

Larry Husten, PHD

Geoffrey Hartzler, a key figure in the development of interventional cardiology in the United States, has died from cancer at the age of 65. He was one of the first cardiologists to learn the technique of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) from its founder, Andreas Gruentzig. Hartzler then went on to perform the first angioplasty […]

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March 13th, 2012

Prominent Japanese Cardiologist Accused of Scientific Misconduct

Larry Husten, PHD

Following accusations by independent bloggers in Japan and Germany, the American Heart Association (AHA) has issued an Expression of Concern about five papers published in AHA journals co-authored by Hiroaki Matsubara, a prominent cardiologist and researcher at Kyoto Prefectural University in Japan. In addition to his many papers exploring the basic science of the renin-angiotensin system, Matsubara was the […]

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March 12th, 2012

Bad News for Red Meat Lovers

Larry Husten, PHD

New results from studies following more than 120,000 health care professionals link red meat consumption to higher mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In a paper published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, An Pan and colleagues report findings from up to 22 years of observation among 37,698 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and […]

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March 8th, 2012

Michael Ezekowitz Joining Cardiovascular Research Foundation to Establish AFib Research Center

Larry Husten, PHD

Michael Ezekowitz is joining the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) in New York City to start a new center for atrial fibrillation research. Ezekowitz, a cardiologist at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research in Philadelphia, had been a professor and vice president for clinical research at Lankenau. Recently, Ezekowitz was a co-principal investigator of the RE-LY […]

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