Have you ever wondered why a simple cut on your skin heals, but a heart attack can cause permanent damage?
Scientists at UCLA have been working on this problem and have developed a new drug that could change how we treat heart disease.
A New Approach to Healing
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light for a new drug, AD-NP1, to begin human clinical trials.
This drug, developed at UCLA, is a first-of-its-kind treatment that helps the heart repair itself after a heart attack. The research was funded entirely by taxpayer dollars.
Internal organs, like the heart, often do not heal well after an injury. This can lead to a loss of function. UCLA cardiologists discovered a protein that interferes with the healing process.
The Science Behind AD-NP1
Dr. Arjun Deb, a UCLA professor, led the research. His team found that a protein called ENPP1 increases in the heart after a heart attack.
This protein disrupts the energy supply to the cells in the injured area, which stops the tissue from repairing itself.
AD-NP1 is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the ENPP1 protein. By doing so, it helps the heart tissue to regenerate and reduces the formation of scar tissue. This improves the heart’s ability to function.
| Drug Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Drug Name | AD-NP1 |
| Type | Monoclonal antibody |
| Target | ENPP1 protein |
| Purpose | Heart tissue regeneration |
A Unique Development Process
What makes this drug development unique is that it was done entirely within a university laboratory. The project was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). No private companies or investors were involved.
“This work has been entirely funded by taxpayer dollars, and done entirely within the University of California research ecosystem,” said Dr. Deb. “I have not taken a cent from any private donor or company to develop this drug.”
This approach has the potential to lower development costs and shorten the time it takes to get a new drug to patients.
How it Works
AD-NP1 is designed to target only the human ENPP1 protein. It works by improving the energy supply to the heart muscle cells. This allows the heart to contract more vigorously and prevents the development of heart failure.
This approach is different from other treatments because it does not use stem cells. Instead, it enhances the body’s own ability to repair itself.
What’s Next for AD-NP1
The drug has already been shown to be safe and effective in mice and monkeys. The next step is to begin Phase I clinical trials in humans. If these trials are successful, AD-NP1 could become the first in a new class of drugs that can repair damaged organs.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world. This new drug offers hope for a future where we can not only treat the symptoms of heart disease but also repair the damage it causes.
References
[1] UCLA. (2025, October 6). FDA clears UCLA heart tissue regeneration drug AD-NP1 for clinical trials. UCLA Stem Cell Research. https://stemcell.ucla.edu/news/fda-clears-ucla-heart-tissue-regeneration-drug-ad-np1-clinical-trials
