New P7C3-based medicine to boost heart energy and protect the failing heart

P7C3 based small molecule for Heart failure treatment

NIH-funded research University of South Florida · NIH-11184187

Developing P7C3-based small molecules that raise cellular NAD+ to help people with heart failure recover heart strength.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of South Florida NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Tampa, United States)
Project IDNIH-11184187 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers are designing and improving P7C3-based small molecules to increase NAD+ levels in heart cells and protect the heart. They will first test many compounds in lab cell tests to find ones that bind well and get into cells. About 8–9 promising molecules will be tested on isolated hearts to see short-term effects on heart function and NAD+ production. Finally, 1–2 lead compounds will be given to animals with experimental heart failure to check whether they reduce damage and improve heart function.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with chronic heart failure or weakened heart muscle would be the likely future candidates for clinical trials of these medicines.

Not a fit: Patients without heart failure, or those with very advanced end-stage disease where structural damage is irreversible, may not benefit from this approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new type of drug that restores cellular energy and slows or reverses heart failure progression.

How similar studies have performed: Other efforts to boost NAD+ have shown promise in lab and animal heart studies, but using P7C3-based drugs for cardioprotection is a newer and less-tested approach.

Where this research is happening

Tampa, 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.