A new drug to improve the use of donor hearts for transplantation

Nourexal™: A Novel Bioenergetic Drug to Increase Donor Heart Utilization

NIH-funded research Nour Heart, INC. · NIH-11003902

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 typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNour Heart, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Vienna, United States)
Project IDNIH-11003902 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals awaiting heart transplantation who may benefit from improved donor heart viability.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

Vienna, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.