A new drug to improve the use of donor hearts for transplantation
Official title: Nourexal™: A Novel Bioenergetic Drug to Increase Donor Heart Utilization
Funded at Nour Heart, INC. · NIH-11003902 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new drug called Nourexal™ that helps keep donor hearts healthy during transport, so more people can receive heart transplants; it’s for anyone interested in improving heart donation and transplantation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nour Heart, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Vienna, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,658,923 |
| NIH project number | 1R44HL174138-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11003902 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals awaiting heart transplantation who may benefit from improved donor heart viability.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already received a heart transplant or those with conditions that preclude them from receiving a transplant may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel bioenergetic drug called Nourexal™ to enhance the viability of donor hearts during transportation and storage. Currently, many donor hearts go unused due to limited transport time and the risk of ischemic injury. The drug aims to protect heart tissue by boosting energy stores and reducing cell damage, thereby allowing for longer storage times and better recovery of the heart for transplantation. The research will involve preparing the drug for FDA approval and conducting safety trials in healthy volunteers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the number of donor hearts available for transplantation, potentially saving thousands of lives each year.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar bioenergetic approaches in animal models, indicating potential for success in human applications.
Where this research is happening
-
Nour Heart, INC.
Vienna, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elgebaly, Salwa a — Nour Heart, INC.
- Study coordinator: Elgebaly, Salwa a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.