deCODE touts heart attack prevention study

Iceland's deCODE genetics says that its heart attack prevention drug--DG051--produced convincingly positive data in a Phase IIa study, paving the way to a Phase IIb. This recent study produced data showing that DG051 reduced leukotriene B4 (LTB4), an inflammatory molecule linked to a higher risk of heart attacks. No safety issues were raised in the study. Now deCODE plans to recruit 400 patients for its next study, slated to begin this spring.

"Our gene discovery work pointed us to the branch of the leukotriene pathway producing LTB4 as a major mechanism involved in promoting inflammation in atherosclerotic plaque and thereby increasing risk of heart attack, said Kari Stefansson, CEO of deCODE. "DG051 has been shown to bring this pathway under control and with a very satisfactory safety and tolerability profile."

- here's the release for more info

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