Stem Cell Collaboration with Mayo Clinic Announced
[Update July 2022: LQT Therapeutics Inc. changed its name to Thryv Therapeutics Inc.]
LQT Therapeutics Announces Stem Cell Collaboration to Develop Treatment for Long QT Syndrome
March 25th, 2020 | LQT Therapeutics Inc
MONTREAL, Québec, Canada - LQT Therapeutics Inc. today announced a research collaboration with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to evaluate novel pharmacologic treatments for the Long QT Syndrome (“LQTS”) – a deadly arrhythmia associated with a prolonged QT interval that can cause sudden death. The collaboration will utilize Mayo Clinic’s library of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes from LQTS patients to gain insights into the mechanistic pathways for treatments being developed by LQT Therapeutics.
“An innovative drug therapy as an alternative to beta-blocker therapy or surgical cardioverter defibrillator implantation would be an essential addition to the arsenal to treat patients with the Long QT syndrome” said Philip Sager, MD, FACC, FAHA and Chief Medical Officer at LQT Therapeutics. “LQT Therapeutics is exploring an exciting new pathway to treat LQTS by inhibiting an enzyme thought to be involved in regulation of a sodium channel which causes prolongation of the QT interval and an increased arrhythmogenic propensity. Working with the Mayo Clinic to provide further insights into this pathway and the effects of our unique molecules on LQTS will be extremely valuable.”
LQTS is a hereditary condition which causes arrhythmias that often lead to sudden death. Several subtypes of LQTS have been described with subtypes 1, 2, and 3 representing more than 95% of patients with LQTS. According to the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one out of 7,000 people living in the US may have LQTS with an estimated 3,000-4,000 deaths in children and young adults each year. People who have the Long QT Syndrome have few signs or symptoms and may only become aware of their condition due to a serious cardiac event, an abnormal electrocardiogram, family history, or genetic testing. In the case of LQT1 and LQT2, cardiac events can be triggered by stress, sudden noise, or exercise. Patients with LQT3 often experience events during sleep. Current therapies for the treatment of LQTS are limited to beta-blockers, that slow the heart rate; implantable defibrillators which restore normal rhythm by providing an electrical shock directly to the heart; substantial lifestyle modifications including diet, exercise limitations, and reduced daily activities designed to reduce potential triggers for LQTS. LQT Therapeutics’ focus is on the preclinical development of a series of novel compounds that will bring a novel treatment to LQT patients.
About LQT Therapeutics Inc
LQT Therapeutics Inc. (“LQTT”) is a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing therapies for the treatment of all forms of long QT syndrome (LQTS). LQTT was founded on discoveries and innovations of its three scientific founders in collaboration with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. LQTT is pioneering a precision medicine approach to its discovery and development efforts by: exploiting advancements in genetic identification of long QT syndrome and its various subtypes; targeting unique biomechanical causes of each sub-type of long QT syndrome; efficiently selecting appropriate small-molecule therapeutics to target specific biological pathways to interrupt adverse cardiac signaling; and working with scientific and clinical leaders worldwide to broaden its portfolio to include treatments for all subtypes of LQTS.
