The first patient has been treated in a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel pharmacologic intervention aimed at preventing acute ischaemic brain injury in patients undergoing routine haemodialysis.
Pegevongitide (AV-001), a made-in-Canada drug candidate codeveloped by Vasomune Therapeutics and AnGes will work to stabilise the cerebral vasculature, which undergoes significant circulatory stress during the haemodialysis procedure. Cerebrovascular destabilisation is linked to vascular cognitive impairment in up to 70% of patients initiating routine haemodialysis.
The study is led by Christopher McIntyre (Western University, London, Canada), who leads a multidisciplinary team investigating the pathophysiological impact of chronic kidney disease on cardiovascular, neurological, hepatic, and gastrointestinal systems. His recent work increasingly focuses on mitigating the adverse consequences of dialysis therapy itself.
Haemodialysis patients are uniquely vulnerable to recurrent ischemic brain injury caused by circulatory stress during treatment. Pegevongitide (AV-001) offers a promising new approach by targeting the Tie2/Angiopoietin-1 signalling pathway to stabilise blood vessels and prevent vascular leakage.
With the initiation of this study, Vasomune now moves into a new and exciting arena of working to improve cerebrovascular health in patients. Positive findings from this study will inform a larger confirmatory trial and could lead to improved quality-of-life and functionality for this high-risk population.
