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

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

NIH-funded research Nour Heart, INC. · NIH-11209264

This study is testing a new drug called Nourexal™ that helps keep donor hearts healthy during transportation, so they can be used for transplanting into patients who need a new heart.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNour Heart, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Vienna, United States)
Project IDNIH-11209264 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates Nourexal™, a bioenergetic drug designed to enhance the preservation and recovery of donor hearts during transplantation. The drug aims to increase the viability of hearts that would otherwise be rejected due to limited transport time after donation. By improving energy stores in the heart and reducing cell injury, Nourexal™ could allow for longer storage times and better outcomes for transplanted hearts. 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 transplants who may benefit from an increased availability of donor hearts.

Not a fit: Patients who are not candidates for heart transplantation 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, improving outcomes for patients in need of heart transplants.

How similar studies have performed: Similar approaches in enhancing organ preservation have shown promise, but this specific application of Nourexal™ is novel and untested in human trials.

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.