A new drug could be effective against heart attacks and strokes in humans.
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic (US) led by Dr. Stanley Hazen have developed a drug targeting certain intestinal flora bacteria. This new class of drugs targets not bacteria but a compound produced by some of them during digestion, TMAO or trimethylamine oxide.
In mice, treatment has been shown to be very effective in decreasing the formation of atherosclerosis. It remains to wait for a confirmation in the human being. But previous studies have shown a link between high levels of AMTs and the risk of heart attacks or strokes. If this new drug actually targets this compound, new hopes are possible to fight against cardiovascular disease.
Beyond this study, the innovative approach could potentially be interesting to target other bacterial synthesis pathways involved in conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s or certain cancers.
With 31% of total global mortality according to WHO, cardiovascular disease causes more deaths each year than any other condition.
