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CVCO Therapeutics Forms Strategic Alliance with Karolinska University Hospital

In a groundbreaking announcement on August 21, 2025, CVCO Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to addressing microvascular diseases, has entered into a significant collaboration with Karolinska University Hospital. This partnership aims to enhance the understanding of microvascular dysfunction in patients who are at a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases, particularly those suffering from type 2 diabetes (T2D).

The collaboration is set to kick off with a Phase 2 clinical study that will evaluate the efficacy of a once-daily oral soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) stimulator. This study will focus on patients with type 2 diabetes, many of whom may also be classified as overweight or obese and are dealing with existing microvascular complications. The core objective is to assess whether this treatment can improve myocardial microvascular blood flow through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) perfusion imaging, marking a significant step forward in supporting cardiovascular health within this vulnerable patient group.

Dr. John Pernow, a Senior Consultant in Cardiology at Karolinska University Hospital and Head of the Cardiology Unit at Karolinska Institutet, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. “This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to explore a novel therapeutic approach for patients with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for cardiovascular complications. By targeting microvascular dysfunction and enhancing red blood cell (RBC) signaling, we aim to tackle a pressing unmet medical need,” he noted.

Patients with T2D often experience a significantly increased risk of developing cardiovascular issues, including myocardial infarctions and strokes. Clinical outcomes tend to be less favorable for these individuals, who frequently suffer from more severe myocardial damage, an elevated likelihood of repeat events, and reduced capacity for physical exertion. Although modern therapies aimed at lowering glucose levels, such as SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists, have highlighted some cardiovascular advantages, there remains a substantial gap in therapies focusing on the fundamental mechanisms that lead to cardiovascular complications like microvascular dysfunction.

Recent investigation has unveiled dysfunction within the vascular endothelium as a major player in disease progression, which is characterized by diminished nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and augmented oxidative stress. Additionally, emerging evidence indicates that RBCs might play an unrecognized role in mediating cardiovascular injury. Therapeutic strategies that restore NO activity within RBCs have shown promise in preventing cardiovascular damage and improving exercise endurance, thus providing a new and exciting therapeutic target.

Tony Colasin, CEO of CVCO Therapeutics, voiced his excitement regarding the partnership with Karolinska University Hospital, a recognized leader in cardiovascular research. “We are working to develop medications with the potential to restore vascular health and safeguard the heart along with other essential organs in patients who often lack effective treatment options. This study signifies a pivotal step forward in our commitment to transform the care landscape for individuals living with microvascular diseases,” he stated.

John Rudey, Chairman of the Board at CVCO Therapeutics, also reinforced the importance of this agreement, noting, “This collaboration underscores our commitment to innovative partnerships that propel scientific inquiry and clinical advancements. We believe that the synergy between our specialized knowledge and the world-class research infrastructure at Karolinska University Hospital will hasten the creation of therapies that have a tangible impact on the lives of patients.”

Additional Information

CVCO Therapeutics is at the forefront of developing groundbreaking solutions for microvascular diseases. Its subsidiary, Epizon Pharma, has introduced CVCO-701, a treatment targeting accelerated cardiovascular calcification—an issue that is particularly affecting diabetic, pre-diabetic, and kidney disease patients in the U.S. In earlier trials, CVCO-701 successfully restored levels of calcification inhibitor proteins to those typically observed in healthy individuals without any reported side effects.

In collaboration with prestigious institutions like Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Epizon is currently investigating CVCO-701 in calciphylaxis, a critical condition that poses severe threats to patient health. Interestingly, CVCO-701 is also believed to enhance nitric oxide mobilization, display potent activation of cancer cell death in various cell types, and may even offer benefits in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by preventing degradation of lung elastin.

Karolinska University Hospital, established in 1932, ranks among the top medical institutions globally and collaborates extensively with the Karolinska Institutet, a prominent medical university known for its contributions to groundbreaking medical research. This partnership aims to drive innovation and collaboration between academia and industry, ultimately establishing a leadership role in developing transformative medical solutions.

Through this strategic alliance, both CVCO Therapeutics and Karolinska University Hospital are on a path to redefine treatment protocols for cardiovascular complications stemming from microvascular dysfunction, paving the way for improving patient outcomes in the near future.