Drug for heart failure brings hope
A new treatment being trialled for chronic heart failure has given patients a second chance at life.
The drug, which was developed in Melbourne, has the potential to save the health system millions.
For 64-year-old Robert Jenkins, one of the patients involved in the trial, every day is a gift.
He suffers from chronic heart failure after having a massive heart attack two years ago.
“Six months ago, I was on death’s door,” he said.
Mr Jenkins was given just weeks to live, until he took part in an early stage trial of a locally made drug at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute.
“We’re really astounded,” said Professor David Kaye, who has been working on the heart failure research.
“Robert is a great patient. He embraced this new treatment and has done really well.”
Hospital care of patients with chronic heart failure costs the Australian health system $1billion every year.
The new drug is a take home version of a treatment usually given to patients in hospitals intravenously. There are hopes it could impact on the nation’s health budget.
“If we can improve their (patients’) quality of life, keep them out of hospital, then there will be health care savings,” said Prof. Kyle.
The drug will now be tested on 200 more patients in Australia and the US.
The trials were made possible after $4million was pledged through the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF).
“If we get it right, it is a win for the patients, a win for the hospital, a win for the state and federal governments, and hopefully a win for our investors as well,” said Dr. Chris Nave.
Robert Jenkins feels like a winner already.
“Well for the first time in two years,” he said, “I have been able to think of the future”.
