Precision: the new Tinder Belle of the Heart

Precision medicine is an emerging approach to medical care.  It takes into account individual variations in genetic make-up, metabolism and other biological and environmental factors, to better determine which treatment and prevention strategies for a particular disease may work better for which groups of people1.

Today, precision medicine is routinely integrated into the care of cancer patients, and has provided substantial increases in cancer free survival2. For example, translational studies investigating signatures within the tumour that promote disease progression, can predict individual responses to standard and targeted chemotherapy regimens2,3.

In the cardiovascular field, even though the prognosis for people with heart failure has improved in recent decades as research studies demonstrate the effectiveness of various medications, precision medicine is still in its infancy.

Some aspects of precision medicine are routinely used by healthcare providers, like the blood level of the biomarker called B-type natriuretic peptide, which is a sensitive indicator of whether heart failure is worsening or if treatments are helping1,4. This biomarker can also help the doctor determine whether shortness of breath symptoms in an individual are due to heart failure, or another medical problem1.

But as it is now, patients diagnosed with heart failure are still offered essentially identical treatments, regardless of whether their disease was caused by coronary artery disease, genetic mutations, or an autoinflammatory processes2

Also, historically, clinical trial participants have been predominantly white people with particular genetic variants; but, individuals with different racial and ethnic ancestry have different genetic variants, and therefore, may not have the same response to a certain medication or treatment1.

While this “one-size-fits-all’ approach has led to improvements in clinical outcomes in large populations, the individual response rates continue to vary tremendously; and, it is often difficult to distinguish patients who will achieve a favourable response, from those who will experience disease progression, and ultimately succumb to their illness2.  

As such, in the cardiovascular field, it is urgent to personalize heart failure care by identifying groups of patients more likely to develop heart failure, and tailoring which medications and other therapies could be most effective for them1. Currently, many individuals are left poorly treated, and there is substantial room for improvement2.

Key studies demonstrating selective efficacy of certain drugs in patients harbouring specific genetic variants, indicate a direction where treatment responses can be predicted using individual genetic information. 

Given the recent cost reductions in exome sequencing, for example, this can now be used routinely to identify genetic variants that predict heart failure prognosis, and specific responses to medical and device-based therapies. Such information can further provide critical insights into new disease mechanisms, like Lamin A mutations that display a molecular phenotype that is dramatically distinct from other forms of dilated cardiomyopathy5

More and more we come to realize that despite a common surface phenotype or symptomology, certain mutations may actually give rise to distinct diseases that need to be appropriately treated.

As such, researchers need to increase clinical trial diversity, so that optimal treatment approaches can be found for each population group. Also, the power of supercomputing should be used to rapidly predict the outcomes of possible new treatments. And, processes for sharing information across large databases shouldbe put in place with guarantees of patient privacy (e.g., cloud-based platforms), so that clinicians/scientists can quickly collaborate and share data internationally.

Moreover, updated health-wearable devices, artificial intelligence and other deep learning technologies strategies will ultimately be employed to develop testable hypotheses from large datasets, and provide precision-personalized approaches to cardiovascular health care.

Let’s hope Precision will be more than a one night stand on Heart’s Tinder list….

Yayoi Kusama art installation, Berlin Modern Art Museum

References:

1          AHA. Emerging practice of precision medicine could one day improve care for many heart failure patients. Heart.org https://newsroom.heart.org/news/emerging-practice-of-precision-medicine-could-one-day-improve-care-for-many-heart-failure-patients?utm_campaign=sciencenews19-20&utm_source=science-news&utm_medium=phd-link&utm_content=phd09-12-19 (2019).

2          Kory J. Lavine, C. E. C. Precision Medicine for Heart Failure: using “omics” technologies to find the road to personalized care. Heart.org https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/heart-failure-in-the-era-of-precision-medicine/Commentary (2021).

3          Prasad, V., Fojo, T. & Brada, M. Precision oncology: origins, optimism, and potential. Lancet Oncol. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1470-2045(15)00620-8 17, e81-e86, doi:10.1016/s1470-2045(15)00620-8 (2016).

4          Maisel, A. B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels: Diagnostic and Prognostic in Congestive Heart Failure. Circulation. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/01.CIR.0000019121.91548.C2 105, 2328-2331, doi:doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000019121.91548.C2 (2002).

5          Cheedipudi, S. M. et al. Genomic Reorganization of Lamin-Associated Domains in Cardiac Myocytes Is Associated With Differential Gene Expression and DNA Methylation in Human Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Circ Res. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30739589/ 124, 1198-1213, doi:10.1161/circresaha.118.314177 (2019).

Let’s get physical!

A healthy lifestyle is the cornerstone of cardiovascular health.

Lifestyle interventions are already a key component of primary prevention in low-risk cardiovascular disease groups, and serve as an important aide to pharmacotherapy in higher-risk groups. 

But according to the new guidelines by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC)1, a first line of therapy for mild to moderate–risk groups are lifestyle-only approaches for a proper blood pressure and blood cholesterol management.

As such, the next time you go to the doctor, you might get an exercise prescription instead of an order to visit the pharmacy. 

This is a major change in the idea of health, promoted by not taking a pill, but having a look at lifestyle in order to improve health – and avoid the numerous side-effects that certain medications can have. 

An exercise prescription is an individualized physical activity program designed using the Frequency (how often?), Intensity (how hard?), Time (how long?), and Type (what kind?), or the FITT principle developed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). 

Although most health care professionals and patients are aware that physical activity is recommended for good health, the abundance of scientific and lay recommendations for activity can be difficult to distil. As such, framing the exercise prescription by the FITT principle provides clinicians with more structured guidance on how to recommend exercise to their patients. 

The updated FITT exercise recommendations for adults with elevated blood pressure are the following: 

  • Frequency: in most, preferably all days of the week due to the transient Blood Pressure lowering effects that last for up to 24 hours after an exercise session; 
  • Intensity: Moderate, any intensity of exercise has been shown to lower Blood Pressure;
  • Time: >20 to 30 minutes per day to total >90 to >150 minutes per week of continuous or accumulated exercise of any duration;
  • Type: Emphasize aerobic or resistance exercise alone or combined, due to the recent evidence showing the Blood Pressure lowering effects of exercise do not vary by exercise modality2

The updated FITT exercise prescription recommendations propose more exercise options in less time, that hopefully will translate to better exercise adherence.

As a plus, we should be reminded of the advantageous effects of exercise on brain functions. Acute bouts of physical activity can stimulate transient Serotonin, Dopamine and Norepinephrine activity in the brain3

Furthermore, long-term exercise produces changes in the availability of receptors that can control the release of monoamines, like the Serotonin-1A receptor of the Raphe Nuclei4, and Dopamine-2 receptor in the Striatum5

Regular exercise has antidepressant/anxiolytic properties, and results in dramatic alterations in physiological stress responses. 

In addition to antidepressant and anxiolytic properties, the Serotonin system (5-HT) has also been linked to cognitive function; since, a distress of the 5-HT system is associated with cognitive syndromes, such as Alzheimer’s disease6

So, don’t shy away, and take at least a 20 min quick walk today. 

It’s free, and it’s good for you!

My boots were made for walking!

References:

1          Gibbs, B. B. et al. Physical Activity as a Critical Component of First-Line Treatment for Elevated Blood Pressure or Cholesterol: Who, What, and How?: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Hypertension 0, HYP.0000000000000196, doi:doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000196.

2          Pescatello, L. S. et al. Physical Activity to Prevent and Treat Hypertension: A Systematic Review. Med Sci Sports Exerc 51, 1314-1323, doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000001943 (2019).

3          Buhr, T. J. et al. The Influence of Moderate Physical Activity on Brain Monoaminergic Responses to Binge-Patterned Alcohol Ingestion in Female Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 15, 639790-639790, doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2021.639790 (2021).

4          Greenwood, B. N. et al. Freewheel running prevents learned helplessness/behavioral depression: role of dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons. J Neurosci 23, 2889-2898, doi:10.1523/jneurosci.23-07-02889.2003 (2003).

5          Clark, P. J. et al. Wheel running alters patterns of uncontrollable stress-induced cfos mRNA expression in rat dorsal striatum direct and indirect pathways: A possible role for plasticity in adenosine receptors. Behav Brain Res272, 252-263, doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2014.07.006 (2014).

6          Meltzer, C. C. et al. Serotonin in aging, late-life depression, and Alzheimer’s disease: the emerging role of functional imaging. Neuropsychopharmacology 18, 407-430, doi:10.1016/s0893-133x(97)00194-2 (1998).

N-of-1 patient: crafting personalised treatments for ultra-rare diseases with AntiSense Oligonucleotide (ASO) technology

The n-of-1 patient is that one person with a unique genetic mutation that causes an ultra-rare disease, designated as a disease with less than 30 patients in the whole world. The advent of affordable genomic sequencing has identified millions of n-of-1 patients, which is becoming a large and growing population with desperate needs.

Though a great progress is made in identifying n-of-1 patients, and ruling the genetic causes of their diseases; usually, drugs that work in patients with the common mutations, often do not work for these unique patients.

n-Lorem is a foundation created by Dr. Stanley Crooke, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Ionis Pharmaceuticals, a global leader in RNA-targeted therapy. This foundation was created to provide individualized treatments for patients with ultra-rare diseases using the technology developed at Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

The mission of n-Lorem is to use the versatility and specificity of antisense technology to kindly offer experimental antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) medicines to treat the n-of-1 patient. 

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are short, synthetic, single-stranded DNA-mimics that can alter the RNA, and consequently protein expression and function. Because they can manipulate the intermediate step between gene and protein translation – at the pre-mRNA level – ASOs can reduce, or restore, or modify protein expression by different mechanisms.

Very simply: DNA gets converted into mRNAASOs function in between the two. As such, if the DNA gene has a mutation and codes a dysfunctional mRNA, and consequentially a dysfunctional protein that causes a disease, an ASO can change that. The ASO has the correct complementary code to produce the precise mRNA, and automatically, the precise protein needed to perform the right function. By intervening in the step before protein gets translated, it makes sure that nothing goes wrong and that the mutated gene doesn’t go any further, preventing disease from happening.

Even though it only started one year ago, n-Lorem together with  Ionis Pharmaceuticals  have helped design and provide experimental ASOs for two unique patients: one with Batten’s disease and ataxia-telangiectasia (AT); the other one, with a FUS mutation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These have provided a tremendous opportunity to certify the n-Lorem concept and drive motivation forward.

Anyone can apply to n-Lorem for a potential treatment. The proposals are approved and prioritized based on certain criteria, such as the severity of the disease, feasibility of developing an ASO treatment for the genetic cause of the disease, degree of potential benefit vs. potential risks, practicality of treatment, availability of physician and institution to treat patient, and other intricacies of the condition. 

The unique patient needs to work with a physician that makes the connection to n-Lorem, who will then make an informed decision about whether a patient is appropriate to receive an experimental ASO treatment through a Commission.

It’s outstanding that the FDA reaction to n-Lorem has been very supportive; and, in fact, initial guidance has been put in place in January 2021 to reach more patients in need. 

Once regulatory permission has been given, an investigator-led clinical trial is initiated and the patient can receive their custom experimental ASO treatment at no personal cost and will all clinical support.

This cost-free individualized therapy is possible for Ionis Pharmaceuticals because of the inherent efficiency and versatility of the ASO technology. The knowledge of modern ASOs mechanisms and specific possible effectiveness in selected organs, with different possible routes of application, together with integrated safety databases, allows a dive for the treatment of unique patients. 

It’s honourable to use science to help the n-of-1 patient and their families. 

I hope for more Dr. Stanley Crooke’s…