CURRENT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

We are researching therapies that aim to change clinical care in the following areas

 

Effect of inhaled nitric oxide (IK-3001) in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants
Each year approximately 500,000 babies are born prematurely in the US. Of these, about 10% will have lungs that are so poorly developed that they will require oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation. Most of these infants have immature lungs, and a portion of these ventilated babies develop scarring of the lungs, leading to the development of BPD. BPD remains a significant cause of morbidity in premature newborns.1-4

 

Effect of inhaled nitric oxide (IK-3001) in right ventricular failure following cardiac surgery
Some diseases of the heart and lungs can compromise the ability of the right ventricle to pump blood into the pulmonary vasculature. It has been shown that inhaled nitric oxide may reduce pulmonary blood pressure enough to allow a compromised right ventricle to effectively pump blood through the lungs.5-7

 

Effect of terlipressin (IK-4001) in patients with hepatorenal syndrome Type 1
Hepatorenal syndrome, or HRS Type I, is a rare and often fatal condition of advancing kidney failure in patients with cirrhosis or other severe liver diseases. In many of these patients, a successful liver transplant is their only hope to reverse HRS Type 1 and restore normal kidney function. Currently there is no FDA-approved pharmacological agent on the market to reverse HRS Type I.

 

Studies have shown that terlipressin helps patients achieve HRS reversal by redistributing blood flow to the kidneys.8-13

 

Effect of a resorbable liquid polymer (IK-5001) following acute myocardial infarction

Following a myocardial infarction, adverse remodeling of the left ventricle of the heart can result in its enlargement and deformation. Recent research in animal models suggests that injection of IK-5001 can reduce adverse remodeling and improve cardiac function following an acute myocardial infarction.10

References
  1. Jobe AH, Bancalari E. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001;163(7):1723-1729.
  2. Schmidt B, Asztalos EV, Roberts RS, Robertson CM, Sauve RS, Whitfield MF. Impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, brain injury, and severe retinopathy on the outcome of extremely low-birth-weight infants at 18 months: results from the trial of indomethacin prophylaxis in preterms. JAMA. 2003;289(9):1124-1129.
  3. Roberts JD Jr, Chiche JD, Weimann J, Steudel W, Zapol WM, Bloch KD. Nitric oxide inhalation decreases pulmonary artery remodeling in the injured lungs of rat pups. Circ Res. 2000;87(2):140-145.
  4. McCurnin DC, Pierce RA, Chang LY, et al. Inhaled NO improves early pulmonary function and modifies lung growth and elastin deposition in a baboon model of neonatal chronic lung disease. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2005;288:L450-L459.
  5. Argenziano M, Choudhri AF, Moazami N, et al. Randomized, double-blind trial of inhaled nitric oxide in LVAD recipients with pulmonary hypertension. Ann Thorac Surg. 1998;65(2):340-345.
  6. Wagner F, Dandel M, Günther G, et al. Nitric oxide inhalation in the treatment of right ventricular dysfunction following left ventricular assist device implantation. Circulation. 1997;96(9 suppl):II-291-II-296.
  7. Data on file. Clinton, NJ: Ikaria; 2009.
  8. Sanyal AJ, Boyer T, Garcia-Tsao G, et al. A randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of terlipressin for type 1 hepatorenal syndrome. Gastroenterology. 2008;134(5):1360-1368.
  9. Martín-Llahí M, Pépin MN, Guevara M, et al. Terlipressin and albumin vs albumin in patients with cirrhosis and hepatorenal syndrome: a randomized study. Gastroenterology. 2008;134(5):1352-1359.
  10. Landa N, Miller L, Feinberg MS, et al. Effect of injectable alginate implant on cardiac remodeling and function after recent and old infarcts in rat. Circulation. 2008;117(11):1388-1396.