Targeted boosting of antioxidant defences in the fatty blockages of heart to prevent heart attack

Associate Professor Christina Bursill, University of Adelaide

2022 Vanguard Grant

Years funded: 2023-2024

The development of fatty deposits (plaque) within blood vessels blocks the delivery of blood to heart tissues and causes heart attacks. Therapies that prevent plaque growth (e.g. statins) focus on lowering blood cholesterol. Whilst effective, too many people suffer a second heart attack within a year of the first despite intensive statin therapy. New non-cholesterol lowering drugs are therefore urgently needed.

Our team discovered fumarate drug ‘DRF’ reduces fatty plaque, highlighting the potential of fumarates to prevent heart attacks. Fumarates boost antioxidant production that combats oxidative stress, a driver of plaque growth. To improve efficacy and reduce side effects, we have now developed and patented a novel ‘switchable’ fumarate that is activated only at sites of oxidative stress (like plaque). We will test the ability of our novel plaque-targeting fumarate to reduce plaque, and compare it to non-targeted fumarate DRF and a statin. We will advance our novel fumarate drug towards clinical translation for prevention of heart attacks.