A promising new medicine for heart attack patients has reached a major milestone: successful results in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial. This achievement was made possible, in part, through support from Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals.

The CeleBrate study of zalunfiban (DisaggproTM), developed by CeleCor Therapeutics, met its efficacy and safety endpoints in treating STEMI (heart attack) patients. Disaggro™ was specifically designed for use by medical first responders and emergency department staff to treat patients experiencing a STEMI heart attack, often referred to as the “widowmaker.”

Half of all heart attack deaths occur before a patient reaches the hospital. While in-hospital management of heart attacks has improved significantly over the years, treatment at the scene and during transport has seen little innovation.

Zalunfiban is a next-generation blood clot inhibitor designed for use by first responders and emergency room personnel. The drug acts on the platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor to reduce clot formation or reopen the blocked artery. It is administered subcutaneously, and its antiplatelet effects wear off in about two hours, minimizing interference with subsequent interventional procedures.

Most discoveries in academic labs never make it to patients. Harrington Discovery Institute, a philanthropic organization with a mission to create new medicines for unmet needs, provides physician-scientists and researchers with advanced drug and business development support, grant funding, and opportunities to compete for investment funds.

Barry Coller, MD, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Physician-in-Chief at The Rockefeller University, relied on this support to bring zalunfiban into clinical testing. Dr. Coller, the lead inventor of zalunfiban, received Harrington’s Scholar-Innovator Award in 2015, which helped advance the goal of developing and testing zalunfiban in the pre-hospital setting.

“My therapeutics development advisory team at Harrington Discovery Institute played a crucial role in where we are today,” said Dr. Coller. “They offered access to experts in multiple disciplines, which led us to reconsider the route of administration and initiate much-needed reimbursement strategies. This positioning was instrumental in attracting new funding to advance the medication into clinical trials.”

“Dr. Coller’s work is an excellent example of our mission being accomplished,” said Jonathan S. Stamler, MD, President and Co-Founder of Harrington Discovery Institute and Robert S. and Sylvia K. Reitman Family Foundation Professor of Cardiovascular Innovation. “We are privileged to have been able to contribute.”

Since its founding, Harrington Discovery Institute has supported 227 drugs-in-the-making, 75 academic institutions, 46 company launches, 24 clinical candidates, and 15 licenses to pharmaceutical companies.

More information about the study results can be found here.