Compositions and methods for treating heart failure
View Patent ↗The present invention provides methods for treating chronic heart failure patients using the medication comprising neuregulin. The methods comprise first performing a companion diagnostic test of each patient before treatment; and then providing a suitable treatment to the patient according to the results of the companion diagnostic test. When the result of the test is within a favorite treatment zone, the patient is suitable for heart failure treatment by administering an effective amount of neuregulin.
1. A method of treating chronic heart failure, comprising:
a) evaluating New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart function classification in a patient before treatment; and
b) administering neuregulin to the patient when the patient's heart function is NYHA class II or III,
wherein the neuregulin is neuregulin 1, which comprises a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating heart failure using one or more anti-heart failure drugs selected from a group consisting of: ACE inhibitors, β-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), diuretics, and digitalis.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neuregulin is administered to the patients for an introduction regimen.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the introduction regimen includes an administration of neuregulin for at least consecutive 3, 5, 7 or 10 days.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the neuregulin is administered to the patients for a maintenance regimen after the introduction regimen.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the maintenance regimen includes an administration of neuregulin every 3, 5, 7 or 10 days.
7. A method of treating a heart failure patient by neuregulin, comprising
performing a companion diagnostic test before treatment; and
administering neuregulin to the heart failure patient when the result of the test is indicative for the treatment by neuregulin;
wherein the neuregulin is neuregulin 1, which comprises a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the companion diagnostic test is evaluating heart function by NYHA heart function classification.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the companion diagnostic test is measuring the plasma level of NT-proBNP in said patient.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the result of the test is indicative for the treatment by neuregulin when the plasma level of NT-proBNP≤4000 fmol/ml.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the result of the test is indicative for the treatment by neuregulin when the plasma level of NT-proBNP is between 1600 fmol/ml and 4000 fmol/ml.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the result of the test is indicative for the treatment by neuregulin when the plasma level of NT-proBNP is ≤1600 fmol/ml.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plasma level is measured by immunoassay.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the result of the test is indicative for the treatment by neuregulin when the heart function is NYHA class II or III.