Clinical Trial Shows Immune-Targeted Treatment May Prevent Repeat Heart Attacks
A recent early-stage clinical trial conducted in Cambridge indicates that a treatment targeting the immune system, aldesleukin, could aid in preventing recurrent heart attacks in patients who have recently experienced one.
Treatment Mechanism and Trial Results
The treatment, aldesleukin, functions by increasing the activity of 'regulatory T cells,' a component of the immune system. This mechanism reduces inflammation in major blood vessels. Aldesleukin is already utilized at higher doses in the treatment of specific kidney cancers. Regulatory T cells are a type of white blood cell recognized for their role in immune system regulation.
The IVORY and IVORY-FINALE clinical trials, primarily funded by the Medical Research Council, investigated the efficacy of low-dose aldesleukin. Sixty patients who had recently experienced heart attacks participated in the IVORY trial, receiving either a low dose of aldesleukin or a placebo. Of these, 55 patients continued with up to five years of health monitoring in the IVORY-FINALE phase.
Two years into the follow-up, none of the participants who received aldesleukin experienced subsequent heart attacks. In the placebo group, 11% experienced further heart attacks. PET scans conducted before and after treatment revealed that aldesleukin reduced blood vessel inflammation by nearly 8% on average, with the most significant reduction observed in vessels initially exhibiting higher inflammation levels. These findings were published in Nature Medicine on January 8, 2026.
Context and Future Outlook
Heart attacks lead to hospital admissions every five minutes in the UK, and while survival rates are high, many survivors contend with heart damage and an elevated risk of future attacks. High inflammation in major blood vessels following a heart attack is considered a strong predictor of recurrence. Currently, no approved treatments specifically target post-heart attack inflammation.
Researchers note that although advancements in heart attack treatment have improved patient outcomes, new therapies are still needed to address residual risks, particularly those driven by inflammation. The study's authors emphasize the necessity of larger-scale studies to corroborate these early findings before aldesleukin can be considered for widespread clinical approval in heart attack prevention.