Revolutionary heart drug gets financial backing from charity

Research into a revolutionary new drug to treat heart failure has been given a significant boost — thanks to a Southampton heart charity.

Wessex Heartbeat has awarded £31,500 to fully fund a new study led by Dr Andrew Flett, Cardiology Consultant in Heart Failure at University Hospital Southampton, and his Research Fellow Dr Alice Zheng.

The groundbreaking new research will see the team recruit eligible heart failure patients to start Entresto, a breakthrough new drug which can reduce the risk of death and hospitalisation by 20%.

Dr Flett said: “Entresto relaxes blood vessels, improves blood flow, and reduces stress on the heart. The exact mechanism of how this medication achieves its powerful positive effect is not yet fully understood, therefore it is critical for us to gain a deeper insight into this.”

The team will use Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR), a specialist cardiac MRI which will look at heart size, function and characteristics of heart tissue, such as scarring.

Dr Flett added: “The research will generate important knowledge for the heart failure medical community. This has only been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wessex Heartbeat for which we are extremely grateful.”

John Munro, CEO of Wessex Heartbeat said: “This study is a huge step forward in the treatment of cardiac care and it is an honour to be able to give it our support.”

For more information about Wessex Heartbeat, visit their website: www.heartbeat.co.uk.