Galmed and Tissue Dynamics Study New Therapy for Cardiac Fibrosis

Galmed and Tissue Dynamics announced results from a preclinical study evaluating a combination of Aramchol Meglumine, an SCD1 inhibitor, and a selective PPARalpha agonist. The study identified a previously unrecognized metabolic pathway involved in the progression of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure and demonstrated that the two-drug combination effectively targets this mechanism. Progressive cardiac fibrosis, driven by ischemic injury or age-related metabolic dysfunction, results in pathological scarring of the heart muscle, leading to tissue stiffening and impaired systolic and diastolic function. Cardiac fibrosis is a major contributor to heart failure progression and remains an area of significant unmet medical need. The study demonstrated that a combination of Aramchol Meglumine and a selective PPARalpha agonist modulates two key pathological processes-mitochondrial stress and associated lipogenesis-that contribute to the development and progression of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure. In inflammatory human cardiac organoids, the treatment reduced fibrotic burden by approximately fourfold while preserving cardiac muscle density and maintaining metabolic function. Based on these findings, a new patent application has been filed, and preparations are underway to support future IND-enabling activities.