Cardiospheres and cardiosphere-derived cells as therapeutic agents following myocardial infarction

Heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Cellular therapies hold significant promise for patients with heart disease. Heart-derived progenitor cells are capable of repairing a diseased heart through modulation of growth factor milieu and temporary engraftment leading to endogenous repair. The proof-of-concept CADUCEUS clinical trial using cardiosphere-derived cells has shown evidence of therapeutic cardiac tissue regeneration. Future clinical trials are now being planned to generate additional safety and efficacy data in the hopes of building toward an approved cellular therapy for heart disease.