Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia. It’s estimated that between 2.7-6.1 million people in the U.S. have Atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib. By 2030, the number is expected to rise to 12 million. Gerard Abate is working with Rhythm Therapeutics to develop gene therapy to treat AFib.

 Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and usually fast heartbeat in the upper chambers. The two upper chambers are known as the Atria. When AFib occurs, the Atria beats faster and out of rhythm with the lower chambers.

Symptoms of AFib include shortness of breath, weakness, and heart palpitations. However, many people show no symptoms and discover they have AFib during a medical exam.

AFIb can cause blood to pool in the upper chambers, increasing the risk of blood clots that can lead to stroke and damage to vital organs.

Current Treatments for AFib

The first-line treatment for AFib is usually a blood thinner. This can reduce the risk of clots. However, it requires routine blood work. Certain foods can affect the effectiveness of these drugs. Cuts become more dangerous because the blood is thinner.

Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers are often prescribed to slow racing heart rates.

Electrical cardioversion can reset the rhythm of the heart. Atrial fibrillation reoccurs for about half of patients who undergo this procedure, so antiarrhythmics are often prescribed.

Lastly, a surgical procedure known as ablation can be used. Some patients require more than one ablation or a pacemaker, Gerard Abate notes.

Gene Therapy for AFib

Rhythm Therapeutics has found major molecule mechanisms that contribute to AFib. They have identified trans-genes that target these mechanisms. Gene therapy through electroporation has shown great promise in large animal studies.

Electroporation was first used in 1982. Since then, advances have allowed it to be used in many types of cells. The method uses an electrical current to create pores in the cell membrane. Electrically charged particles, including genetic material, can then be passed into the cell.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has awarded a research grant to Rhythm Therapeutics. The stage 1 grant is $462,689. The stage 2 grant is $3,212,600. This will allow Rhythm Therapeutics to determine the optimal dose for the therapy, evaluate the toxicology profile, and determine the length of effectiveness.

The treatment holds great promise for those with “persistent AFib”, which makes up half of the diagnosed cases. Current treatments have suboptimal efficacy, according to Rhythm Therapeutics Rishi Arora, M.D. The goal of gene therapy is to decrease mortality and increase the quality of life, according to Gerard Abate.

Gerard Abate

Gerard Abate spent the first part of his career as a non-invasive cardiologist. After 14 years, he moved into pharmaceutical and diagnostic consulting. He’s now working with Rhythm Therapeutics to create gene therapy for AFib.