Project description
RNA therapeutics for prevention of heart failure
Heart failure (HF) is a deadly disease and the common cause of morbidity without relevant curative treatment. Cardiac fibrosis is the process of excessive collagenous scar tissue production by heart fibroblasts and is the main driver of HF development. The EU-funded FIBREX project aims to develop and bring to clinical readiness an innovative noncoding RNA (ncRNA)-based antisense oligonucleotide therapeutic product for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis-linked HF. The project is based on the discovery that imprinted long ncRNA gene maternally expressed 3 (MEG3) is the most promising target, expressed by cardiac fibroblasts and dysregulated in HF models.
Objective
The aim of FIBREX is developing a novel, highly innovative and close to clinical readiness noncoding RNA (ncRNA)-based antisense oligonucleotide therapeutic for the treatment of heart failure (HF) derived from cardiac fibrosis. HF is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality with pressing social and economic burden. HF remains a deadly disease with no curative treatment, underlining the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. The revolutionary technology we are proposing acts by reversing cardiac fibrosis, the main driver of HF development and progression. The excess fibrotic tissue leads to continous stiffening and impairment of the heart muscle. In our prior work, ncRNA Meg3 was identified as the most promising target, expressed mainly by cardiac fibroblasts and by consistent transcriptional dysregulation in HF models. The critical role for Meg3 in cardiac fibrogenesis was validated both in vitro and in vivo and a lead compound targeting Meg3 showed promising efficacy in relevant models, human tissues and excellent exploratory safety data. We propose a development project for an antiMEG3 inhibitor to reach close to clinical readiness, by completing non-clinical pharmacodynamic and safety studies.This work will be carried out by an experienced team headed by Prof. Thum, with a track record of discovering and licensing various ncRNA inhibitors programs, and creating a clinical stage spin-off company Cardior, reaching phase 2 development and Series B funding. We are confident that our technology with the requested support will be further advanced into an innovative novel drug candidate and, driven by the substantial value increase, the project will be transitioned into a spin-off drug development or a licensing-deal with the industry. The development of the unique, RNA-based antiMEG3 therapeutic approach for HF derived from excessive fibrosis offers a new opportunity to revolutionize medical practice, reduce health care costs and improve patient's life.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2021-TRANSITIONOPEN-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
30625 Hannover
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.