Abstract 13724: Development of VS-041 as a Precision Medicine Targeting Cardiac-Relevant Matrix Metalloproteases (MMPs) in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)

Introduction. HFpEF is a heterogeneous syndrome, with several underlying etiologic and pathophysiologic factors. As “one size fits all” therapies are not equally efficacious across various HFpEF comorbidities, a precision medicine approach can offer a disease modifying treatment for HFpEF subpopulation stratified for specific molecular targets. Expression of MMP2, 9, and 13 in heart is elevated in HFpEF patients with hypertension, diabetes or coronary disease, and their levels in plasma correlate with survival, suggesting utility as predictive biomarkers. Genetic ablation of MMP2, 9, and 13 leads to a robust antifibrotic effect in the myocardium. Inhibition of MMP2, 9, and 13 directly regulates of Ca 2+ transients and protects sarcomere function. Hypothesis. We present preclinical profile of VS-041, a novel and narrow-spectrum MMP inhibitor, as a drug candidate for HFpEF patients with elevated levels of MMP2, 9, and 13. Methods and Results. VS-041, optimized with computer-aided drug design methods, shows single-digit IC 50 against MMP2 (1nM), MMP9 (2nM) and MMP13 (1nM), and maintains >300-fold selectivity against MMP1 and TACE. In isolated cardiomyocytes VS-041 reduces contractility deficit due to fast pacing. With high predicted metabolic bioavailability (MF%=90), >80% target occupancy by VS-041 is estimated after 50 mg/kg PO dose in rats. VS-041 demonstrated robust efficacy in Dahl Salt Sensitive rat model of hypertension and HFpEF after dosing at 25 or 50 mg/kg PO for 5 wks in a therapeutic mode (after 1-wk of high salt lead-in). VS-041 had no effect on blood pressure or ejection fraction confirming a direct effect on diastolic function. In Doppler mitral inflow, analysis of the isovolumic relaxation time and the E/A ratio of peak velocity of filling waves revealed 40% improvement in diastolic function. LV fibrosis was dose-proportionally decreased based on PSR morphometry. No adverse effects were observed after 5 weeks of dosing. Conclusions. Preclinical pharmacology and safety profile of VS-041 support its nomination as clinical candidate and initiation of IND-enabling studies. VS-041 has potential to be first-in-class precision medicine treatment for HFPEF patients with elevated levels of cardiac-relevant MMP2, 9 and 13.