# New infusible ECM hydrogel for treating acute myocardial infarction

> **NIH NIH R43** · VENTRIX, INC. · 2020 · $791,543

## Abstract

Summary
Heart failure post-myocardial infarction (MI) continues to be the leading cause of death in the U.S. Each year it
is estimated that ~550K Americans will have a new MI, and ~200K will have a recurrent MI and a majority of
these patients will suffer from heart failure. These staggering statistics necessitate the development of new
therapies for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies
offer significant potential for the development of novel therapies to treat these patients. Recently, acellular
biomaterials have shown great promise in providing functional benefit without the complications associated with
other regenerative medicine approaches. Injectable biomaterials that stimulate endogenous repair are an
attractive alternative since potential therapies could still be delivered minimally invasively via catheter yet could
be off the shelf and have significantly reduced costs compared to other regenerative medicine products, such as
cells. Ventrix is therefore focusing on cell-free regenerative medicine approaches. Ventrix has a history of
success in developing injectable biomaterials for treating ischemic cardiomyopathy. Two previous NIH SBIRs
resulted in an approved IND for VentriGel, an injectable, catheter-deliverable hydrogel derived from
decellularized porcine myocardium. This led to a recent successful Phase 1 clinical trial in patients 60 days to 3
years post-MI. The study proposed herein is a key step in bringing a new biomaterial product to market for
treating acute MI. This new soluble version of VentriGel can be delivered via intracoronary infusion, which will
enable treatment immediately post-MI, unlike the original formulation, which required transendocardial delivery.
Herein, we will test the feasibility of translating this new technology by optimizing delivery and evaluating function
in a large animal acute MI model. This will be the first intracoronary infusible regenerative biomaterial product
for treating acute MI patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9907247
- **Project number:** 1R43HL150917-01
- **Recipient organization:** VENTRIX, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen L Christman
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $791,543
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-20 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9907247

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9907247, New infusible ECM hydrogel for treating acute myocardial infarction (1R43HL150917-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9907247. Licensed CC0.

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