Seralaxin

The pregnancy related hormone relaxin is produced throughout the reproductive system. However, relaxin also has important cardiovascular effects as part of the adaptation that the cardiovascular system undergoes in response to the extra demands of pregnancy. These effects are primarily mediated by the relaxin family peptide receptor 1, which is one of four known relaxin receptors. The effects of relaxin on the cardiovascular system during pregnancy, as well as its anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties, have led to extensive studies into the potential of relaxin therapy as an approach to treat heart failure...

The European Society of Cardiology held their annual congress in Amsterdam between the 31st of August and 4 September 2013 to discuss the latest developments in the field. The meeting included an update of the latest treatments currently under investigation for the treatment of heart failure. Updates were provided on the RELAX-AHF study that had, for the first time, demonstrated an improvement in post-discharge outcome in patients with acute heart failure treated with seralaxin. The meeting also gave the opportunity to highlight the latest goings on from the promising agent omecamtiv mecarbil as shown in the ATOMIC-AHF study...