Stem Cell Heart Patches Show Promise in Early Trials

Engineered heart tissue improved heart function in macaques and a human patient, with clinical trials underway for advanced heart failure treatment.

Researchers used engineered patches of heart muscle derived from induced pluripotent stem cells to partially repair damaged hearts in macaques and a human patient.
The patches, containing cardiomyocytes and connective tissue cells, thickened heart walls and enhanced blood-pumping capacity without causing arrhythmias or tumors.
A clinical trial involving 15 patients with advanced heart failure is ongoing, testing the potential of the patches as a bridge to heart transplantation or alternative therapy.
Challenges remain, including immune responses in some cases and incomplete integration of the patches with the heart's blood supply, requiring further refinement.
The approach offers hope for addressing the global shortage of donor hearts, potentially delaying or reducing the need for transplants in patients with severe heart failure.