Helios Cardio
A Cardiac Repair and Regeneration Company
tackling the most challenging cardiovascular diseases
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for more than 350,000 deaths each year in the US alone. Improvements in the standard of care of patients suffering from myocardial infarction have resulted in significantly improved survival rates. However, this has led to a shift towards increased numbers of patients suffering from chronic heart conditions such as heart failure. Indeed, the prevalence of heart failure continues to rise with an estimated 6.2 million Americans currently living with this condition resulting in more than 380,000 annual deaths and annual costs of over $30 billion to the nation’s economy.
Our mission is to improve clinical outcomes for patients suffering from some of the most challenging cardiovascular conditions for which there remains a significant unmet medical need. These include chronic heart failure, complications associated with open heart surgery, and other heart repair indications for which only sub-optimal solutions exist today.
Led by a team with a successful heritage in regenerative medicine spanning over 20 years, advised by cardiac surgeons at the forefront of clinical research, Helios Cardio intends to bring improved clinical outcomes to millions of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
Fetal Engineered Biologic Matrix (f-EBM)
the ideal tissue scaffold for cardiac repair and reconstruction
When treating diseases which involve damaged tissue, biologic tissue scaffolds have been used successfully for many years in indications such as hernia repair or plastic and reconstructive surgery. However, complex heart conditions will require a tissue scaffold combining both excellent mechanical properties with a cell friendly environment where cells, either attracted by paracrine signalling or seeded by the surgeon, can proliferate and differentiate into healthy tissue.
However, we know that for true regeneration of cardiac tissue, a combination of a strong cell friendly scaffold together with other therapeutic modalities (e.g. drugs, stem cells) will be required.
Helios Cardio is developing Fetal Engineered Biologic Matrix (f-EBM) for a number of cardiac indications which will leverage not only the unique properties of f-EBM, but also advanced cellular and pharmacotherapies.
products
CardiaMend™ Pericardial and Epicardial Reconstruction Matrix
CardiaMend™ Pericardial and Epicardial Reconstruction Matrix is an FDA cleared device indicated for the repair and reconstruction of the pericardium and for the support and repair of the epicardium. Based on f-EBM, CardiaMend™ combines the ideal mechanical properties and high biocompatibility required for these indications.
research and development
Helios Cardio aims to tackle some of the most challenging cardiac health problems ranging from postoperative atrial fibrillation to heart failure. f-EBM is being investigated both as a monotherapy (e.g. as a restraint to limit ventricular remodeling in heart failure) or in combination with other therapeutic modalities such as autologous or induced pluripotent stem cells or drug therapies to maximize the desired biologic effect.