Acorda Therapeutics, Inc announced the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has awarded a US$ 1 million Cardiac Translational Research Implementation Programme (C-TRIP) grant to support research on Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2), a novel investigational agent for the treatment of patients with heart failure under development at Acorda. The grant, supporting both clinical and laboratory studies, was awarded jointly to Acorda and Vanderbilt University Heart and Vascular Institute, which are collaborating on research of GGF2 in heart failure. The first clinical study for GGF2 in patients with heart failure is expected to begin in mid-2010.

"Collaboration is often critical to important scientific advances, and we are excited to be working with Vanderbilt University Heart and Vascular Institute, a leading cardiac treatment and research center, to explore the use of GGF2 in heart failure," said Anthony Caggiano, vice president of Preclinical Development at Acorda.

NHLBI, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides C-TRIP grants in order to advance research on promising new therapeutics that address unmet medical needs in cardiovascular diseases. The grant will support early phase GGF2 clinical studies. If these studies are successful, Acorda and Vanderbilt will be eligible to apply for a second phase C-TRIP grant of at least US$ 7.5 million.

GGF2, which is one of a family of proteins known as neuregulins, has demonstrated therapeutic effect in a number of preclinical models of cardiovascular and central nervous system conditions. GGF2 acts directly on heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, and is believed to promote the repair of tissue damage resulting from heart disease or injury, improving the heart's ability to contract. It has been shown to improve heart function and survival in preclinical models of heart damage and failure. Currently, damaged heart muscle cells cannot be repaired, so that GGF2 represents a novel approach to treating heart failure.

"Vanderbilt has world-recognized cardiac expertise; Acorda has extensive experience in the development of the neuregulins and in all aspects of drug development. Collaborating under this C-TRIP grant will allow us to leverage our complementary skills toward a common goal of advancing the care of patients with heart failure," said Doug Sawyer, Lisa M Jacobson professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Heart and Vascular Institute.

Dr Sawyer is the lead primary investigator on the C-TRIP grant; Dr Caggiano is the co-primary investigator.

Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing therapies for multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and other nervous system disorders.