VEGF saRNA

VEGF saRNA is a self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) therapeutic designed to express Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) for the treatment of heart failure, particularly following myocardial infarction. Unlike conventional messenger RNA (mRNA), saRNA contains genetic machinery (typically derived from alphaviruses) that allows it to replicate intracellularly, leading to significantly higher and more sustained protein expression at lower initial doses. In preclinical murine models of heart failure, VEGF saRNA has demonstrated the ability to enhance cardiac protein expression, reduce left ventricular dilation, improve ejection fraction, and promote angiogenesis while reducing myocardial fibrosis. The research is being conducted by investigators at Osaka University and Kyoto University.

Other names

Vascular endothelial growth factor self-amplifying RNA