Acorda Therapeutics Begins Second Phase 1 GGF2 Trial In Heart Failure

(RTTNews) - Acorda Therapeutics Inc. (ACOR) today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the second trial of Glial Growth Factor 2 or GGF2. This Phase 1b single-infusion study in people with heart failure would evaluate tolerability of three dose levels of GGF2, and includes several explorative measures of efficacy.

Acorda said in a statement, "The first clinical trial with GGF2 in people with heart failure provided initial data on tolerability and activity of a single infusion over a wide range of doses. That study also supported observations in preclinical models that GGF2 improved heart function as measured by ejection fraction." The company added, "This second trial will employ a narrower range of single infusion doses to assess safety, various measures of efficacy, including changes in ejection fraction and cardiovascular endurance, and whether there is evidence of interaction with other medications commonly used in heart failure."

GGF2, a part of a family of proteins known as neuregulins, has been shown to be pharmacologically active in a number of preclinical models of cardiovascular and neurological conditions. GGF2 acts directly on heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes.