Adult Stem Cells Improve Cardiac Function and Blood Flow in Patients With Heart Disease, New Study Finds

Adult Stem Cells Improve Cardiac Function and Blood Flow in Patients With Heart Disease, New Study Finds

March 20, 2006

NOGA(R) Cardiac Navigation System from Biologics Delivery Systems Group, Cordis Corporation, Helped Researchers Deliver Stem Cells to the Heart

    ATLANTA, March 20 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Bone
marrow-derived adult stem cells administered within the
heart (intramyocardial) and coronary artery (intracoronary)
tissues of heart disease patients improved patients' heart
function and blood flow, according to a pilot study
presented during a poster session at the 2006 American
College of Cardiology Scientific Session.  The study also
found that patients who received more stem cells
experienced a higher degree of cardiac improvement.

    "The results of this adult stem cell study are
encouraging news for patients who suffer from serious
coronary heart disease but additional clinical
investigation is necessary to confirm these findings,"
said Mariann Gyongyosi, M.D., Division of Cardiology,
University of Vienna Medical Center, Vienna, Austria. 
"This study is an important step forward in
understanding the potential role of adult stem cells in
patients with ischemic heart disease." 

    Six months post-stem cell injection, patients had
improved function at the target study site of the left
heart ventricle.  Improvements included a 4.7 percent
increase in the strength of the patient's heart
contractions (ejection fraction or EF) (34.8 +/- 7.9
percent to 39.5 +/- 6.7 percent; p=0.015) and an increase
in the movement of the inner heart wall during contraction
(linear local shortening or LLS) (5.14 +/- 2.90 percent to
6.21 +/- 1.66 percent; p=0.035).  Additionally, study
participants experienced a 4.9 percent decrease in blood
flow problems (perfusion defects) after receiving a
stress-inducing drug (37.0 +/- 10.3 percent to 32.1 +/-
13.3 percent; p=0.088).

    The study examined 17 patients who were considered
unsuitable candidates for conventional treatments such as
coronary artery stenting or bypass surgery.  Utilizing the
investigational MYOSTAR(TM) Injection Catheter, researchers
administered bone marrow-derived stem cells into patients'
left heart ventricle, relying on the NOGA(R) System to help
them accurately identify the target injection site. 

    "The NOGA(R) System created highly precise,
three-dimensional images of the heart.  These images gave
us a clear `map' that helped us to successfully deliver the
adult stem cells where we intended them to go,"
commented Dr. Gyongyosi.  "This imaging technology was
critical to making this study possible."

    A secondary study finding was that patients experienced
higher degrees of cardiac improvement as the number of stem
cells administered within the myocardial and coronary
tissues increased.  This was documented through follow-up
measures, including EF (p=0.01, r=0.709), LLS (p<0.05,
r=0.628) and stressed-induced (p=0.01, r=0.708) and resting
(p<0.01, r=0.722) perfusion defects.

    Linear Local Shortening (LLS) was measured with the aid
of NOGA endocardial mapping, a means of visualizing the
motion of the inner heart wall by recording its electrical
signals.  Additional follow-up methods included x-ray,
scintigraphy (a diagnostic procedure to create an image of
a target organ by giving the patient a radioactive agent
known as a radionuclide) and echocardiography (a diagnostic
test to visualize the heart and its structures using
ultrasound waves).

    "We are pleased that the NOGA(R) System was able
to play such an important role in exploring this new
frontier of heart disease treatment," said Mark
Martin, Global Clinical Manager, Biologics Delivery Systems
Group, Cordis Corporation, which distributes the NOGA(R)
System.  "This study is a prime example of our
commitment to giving physicians and researchers the
innovative visualization and delivery technologies they
need to explore breakthrough treatments."

    About the NOGA(R) System

    The NOGA(R) Cardiac Navigation System is the most
advanced technology currently available on the market to
create highly precise, three-dimensional images of the
heart.  Based on these images, physicians are able to
accurately identify tissue that could benefit from a
variety of targeted therapies.  The NOGA(R) XP Cardiac
Navigation System is currently being used to map the heart
in more than 17 ongoing clinical studies worldwide,
investigating the use of adult stem cell and gene therapies
to treat conditions such as congestive heart failure and
chronic ischemia.

    The MYOSTAR(TM) Injection Catheter is not commercially
available in the United States and is used only under
investigational protocols.

    About Biologics Delivery Systems Group

    Biologics Delivery Systems Group, Cordis Corporation,
is a leader in the emerging field of biologics delivery,
developing breakthrough technology in targeted delivery
across multiple disease states and clinical specialties. 
Biologics Delivery Systems Group delivery technology is
advancing the standard of care by enabling physicians to
identify and visualize optimal delivery sites, and to
precisely target single and multiple treatment sites.

    About Cordis Corporation

    Cordis Corporation, a Johnson & Johnson company, is
a worldwide leader in developing and manufacturing
interventional vascular technology.  Through the company's
innovation, research and development, physicians worldwide
are better able to treat the millions of patients who
suffer from vascular disease.

    For more information, please contact:

     Christopher Allman 
     Cordis Cardiology
     Mobile:  [phone]
     Email:   [e-mail]

     Todd Ringler
     Edelman
     Mobile:  [phone]
     Email:   [e-mail]

SOURCE  Cordis Corporation