AstraZeneca has over the last years developed a therapeutic drug of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF-A) mRNA, known as AZD8601. This has been performed in partnership with Moderna Therapeutics, Inc. VEGF-A is a well-studied protein known to stimulate angiogenesis. Intracardiac delivery of modified mRNA encoding for VEGF-A achieve a local transient expression of VEGF-A, and this is thought to improve ventricular function in patients following a myocardial infarction. The final aim is to regenerate damaged heart tissue and treat patients. Extensive pre-clinical and clinical data from the Ph1 study will be presented. The study for the EPPICURE Ph2a study in CABG patients is on-going and the future plans for the mRNA VEGF-A project is to be discussed.
