Dermagraft Stimulates Angiogenesis in Hearts - Brief Article

Applied Genetics News, April, 2000

Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc., (10933 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037-1005; Tel: 619/450-5730, Fax: 619/455-6455) in conjunction with researchers from the University of Arizona, showed that Dermagraft, a living artificial skin product, could be used as an epicardial patch that stimulates angiogenesis in damaged hearts. The data was presented at the Seventh Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Applied Cardiovascular Biology in Tucson, Arizona in a presentation titled, "Dermagraft, as an Epicardial Patch, Stimulates Angiogenesis in Ischemic Heart Tissue."

These studies demonstrated the ability of a metabolically active, tissue- engineered epicardial patch to induce blood vessel formation and improve cardiac function. New blood vessel formation occurred as early as 14 days after application of the product. In addition, maturation of these blood vessels occurred over time. The patch, a human tissue-engineered product, secretes a variety of growth factors and matrix proteins, including at least three factors that are key to blood vessel formation and maintenance: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and angiopoietin-1.

"The angiogenic effects induced by Dermagraft in these studies exceed the results achieved in previous studies reported to date using either a single growth factor or gene therapy," states Stuart K. Williams, professor and chair, department of biomedical engineering, the University of Arizona. "Dermagraft has the ability to secrete angiogenic factors continuously and directly onto the damaged heart." Dermagraft has been in clinical use since 1991, is manufactured commercially and demonstrates a safe clinical profile in wound healing applications, says Gail Naughton, president and chief operating officer of Advanced Tissue Sciences.