Hope to Heal Hearts: Angiogenic Gene Therapy. Culver City, CA - November 1, 2002 – Every day, approximately 6.4 million Americans may wake up with angina, or chest pain, due to coronary artery disease (CAD). The pain may continue throughout the day during the simplest tasks, such as getting up from a chair or taking a short walk around the neighborhood. People who suffer from angina have arteries that are clogged and their heart starved for blood. These people may not only be limited in their daily activities, but may also be at risk for a heart attack or death. Fortunately, researchers are beginning to study angiogenic gene therapy as a potential option to stimulate angiogenesis an important natural process in the human body by supplementing the heart with angiogenic growth factor protein. This may help provide alternate routes for oxygenated blood to flow around narrow or blocked arteries due to atherosclerosis. A leader in heart and vascular care, Brotman Medical Center is currently participating in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial to test an investigational angiogenic gene therapy product, Ad5FGF-4, in patients with angina due to CAD. Brotman is one of and estimated 100 sites nationwide participating in the trial. Study investigator, Dr. Ronald Karlsberg is a cardiologist on staff at Brotman Medical Center. Neither he nor the patients will know whether the injection contains the investigational gene therapy product or the placebo. "I am delighted to be able to participate in this clinical trial and evaluate this new drug treatment," said Dr. Karlsberg. "Angiogenic gene therapy with Ad5FGF-4 has the potential to provide an additional treatment option to the most common treatments for CAD such as angioplasty, bypass surgery, an medication."