The German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) and the research-based pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb have joined forces to investigate the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) as part of the TORCH Plus registry.
There is a great medical need for innovative therapeutic interventions for this chronic, progressive disease of the heart muscle. The research collaboration focusses on the scientific observation of patients who have been prescribed a novel drug for the treatment of HOCM in everyday clinical practice. The effectiveness, tolerability, side effects and possible interactions with other medications will be recorded and analysed. The aim is to evaluate this data under ‘real-life’ conditions.
The DZHK's TORCH Plus Registry is the largest prospective registry of its kind in the world. Since 2014, it has systematically recorded medical data from more than 4,000 patients with cardiomyopathies at over 20 clinical sites in Germany. ‘The registry allows us to closely monitor the actual use of medication and compare it with other treatment methods,’ explains Dr Johannes Trebing, coordinator of the DZHK-TORCH registry at Heidelberg University Hospital.
As part of the partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb, specific and anonymised data will be collected on patients with HOCM, including their clinical progression, possible side effects and the tolerability of the therapy in everyday life. ‘For over 70 years, Bristol Myers Squibb has been committed to the fight against cardiovascular disease with the goal of improving patients' lives through research and science. The collaboration between the DZHK and Bristol Myers Squibb builds a bridge between clinical research and patient care. This allows us to ensure that new therapies are evaluated for patient benefit under real-world conditions,’ said Narinder Bhalla, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Senior Vice President Worldwide Medical, Head of Cardiovascular and Established Brands at Bristol Myers Squibb.
The TORCH registry database collects data from patients with cardiomyopathies that cannot be traced back to a previous heart attack and may be caused by a hereditary predisposition or inflammation of the heart muscle; little is currently known about the molecular causes of these diseases: ‘The registry offers a unique and comprehensive database for clinical studies and research projects in order to evaluate new therapies in the long term and further develop existing treatment methods,’ says Prof. Dr Benjamin Meder, Scientific Director of the TORCH registry and the Institute of Cardiomyopathies at Heidelberg University Hospital. Dr Benjamin Meder, Scientific Director of the TORCH Registry and the Institute for Cardiomyopathies at Heidelberg University Hospital. ‘It has developed into a valuable and effective tool in cardiological research. This is only possible thanks to the many scientists and centres involved, to whom special thanks are due. Centres outside the DZHK are also cordially invited to participate in the new TORCH module,’ Meder continues.
About hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is a chronic, progressive disease in which excessive contractility of the heart muscle and reduced filling capacity of the left ventricle can lead to problems in blood circulation and, as a result, to debilitating symptoms and cardiac dysfunction. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can be hereditary and can occur at any age. Patients are usually diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60, with a hereditary predisposition present in over 50% of cases. It is estimated that HCM affects around 1 in 500 people worldwide, with many patients remaining undiagnosed and/or asymptomatic.
In hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), the most common form of HCM, the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), through which the blood leaves the heart, is constricted by the enlarged heart muscle. This can result in an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, stroke, heart failure and - although rare - sudden cardiac death. The most common cause of HOCM is mutations in the heart muscle proteins of the sarcomere.
About Bristol Myers Squibb
Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and delivering innovative medicines that help patients overcome serious diseases. Further information at bms.com/de, LinkedIn, Instagram und YouTube.
Contact:
German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Christine Vollgraf, Press and Public Relations, Phone: 030 3465 529 02, presse@dzhk.de
Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Carolin Schambach, Corporate Affairs, 0152 3825 8081, ca-germany@bms.com
