Researchers in Germany have developed a stem cell-based heart patch showing promise in treating severe heart failure. The patch, made from a collagen scaffold seeded with lab-grown heart muscle and connective tissue cells, is designed to reinforce weakened heart tissue and improve pumping function.
Early trials, including one on a 46-year-old patient with diabetes and hypertension who developed heart failure after a heart attack, have shown measurable improvements in heart function. The patch is applied to thin areas of the heart wall to provide stability. Studies on rhesus monkeys demonstrated that the tissue grows and strengthens the heart wall.
The ongoing Phase 2 study aims to collect data from 15 patients by the end of 2025, with a larger Phase 3 trial planned for 2026 or 2027 involving 200 or more patients. If successful, the therapy could benefit approximately 200,000 people in Germany suffering from heart failure, potentially serving as a bridge to heart transplantation. Researchers also suggest the technology could be adapted for other stem cell therapies, including those for diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and eye disorders.