BU School of Medicine and Takeda to Explore Impact of Myokines on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases

Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Current drugs to treat these conditions are limited and the need for novel therapeutics is increasing.

Cross-talk between cardiac and metabolic tissues (liver, skeletal muscle, heart muscle, fat and pancreas) through secreted proteins, especially under conditions of metabolic stress, offers a rich source of potential novel biologics for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have shown that “myokines” secreted by skeletal muscle are likely to possess important regulatory effects on cardiac function and nutrient metabolism.

A new collaboration between the New Frontier Science Group at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and Kenneth Walsh, PhD, director of the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute and Aram V. Chobanian Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, will collaborate on studies to identify and characterize novel myokines that demonstrate beneficial effects on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.  This research will provide an enhanced understanding of the physiological actions of these important circulating molecules and may lead to the discovery of innovative biologic medicines.