VEGF-2 (St Elizabeth's Medical Center)

St Elizabeth's Medical Center of Boston is developing VEGF gene therapy for the potential treatment of angina and diabetic neuropathy. The center is studying three isoforms of VEGF, although the expression of phVEGF165 has yielded the most positive results [312563]. VEGF-2 gene therapy augments perfusion of ischemic myocardium that contributes to improved clinical outcomes in patients with chronic myocardial ischemia as assessed by NOGA electromechanical mapping [390786]. Phase I trials demonstrated that gene transfer directly into the heart of the patient facilitates blood flow to the primary muscles of the heart, providing relief of angina [348564]. Reduced angina was reported by 28 out of 30 patients and tolerance of exercise increased from 240 to 410 s up to 180 days post-therapy [348632].