Ongoing Research
Research Focus
Galectin-3 has been implicated in a variety of biological processes important in heart failure including myofibroblast proliferation, fibrogenesis, tissue repair, cardiac remodeling and inflammation. Various drug classes in current use in heart failure work on pathways related to these processes. Therefore it is likely that drugs may not work, or may not work as well in patients with elevated or low galectin-3. In other words, the benefit may be accrued in a subset defined by a galectin-3 level. If confirmed, this may one day help physicians to better match patients and treatments.
Galectin-3 is a protein that binds strongly to certain types of carbohydrate molecules. This binding can inhibit galectin-3 function. These carbohydrate drugs offer one potential alternative in the development of specific anti-galectin-3 treatments. There are several other approaches, such as anti-galectin-3 antibodies. There are a number of other chronic diseases where antibody-based drugs are offering important new alternatives to patients.
BG Medicine, the company that has developed the use of galectin-3 testing in patients with chronic heart failure, is conducting a number of additional studies to further investigate the role galectin-3 can play in treatment selection. These studies are typically done in collaboration with academic or corporate partners. Before clinical use, any observation may require additional confirmatory studies and any change to the intended use of the galectin-3 test is subject to review and clearance by the FDA or other regulatory authorities.
Ongoing Studies
CLINICAL STUDIES
Table 1 lists selected clinical studies that are currently being conducted, and when the results may become available. The list is subject to change and not all studies may be successfully completed.
To submit research proposals related to the use of galectin-3 for treatment response or treatment selection, please contact BG Medicine at research@bg-medicine.com
PRECLINICAL STUDIES
Table 2 lists selected preclinical studies that are currently being conducted at academic institutions and when the results may become available. The list is subject to change and not all studies may be successfully completed.
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