The Rockefeller University
April 13, 2021
HOST
Richard P. Lifton, M.D., Ph.D.
President and Carson Family Professor
Laboratory of Human Genetics and Genomics
The Rockefeller University
SPEAKER
Barry S. Coller, M.D.
Physician in Chief, The Rockefeller University Hospital
David Rockefeller Professor
Allen and Frances Adler Laboratory of Blood and Vascular Biology
The Rockefeller University
The odd of surviving a heart attack have improved dramatically, thanks to a range of interventions available in hospitals equipped for coronary care. The weak link in the treatment chain is time: early treatment is crucial in preventing irreversible damage to the heart, but it is difficult to administer before patients reach the hospital.
Barry S. Coller, M.D. is working to prevent deaths by treating patients during the critical pre-hospital period. He has created a small molecule, RUC-4 (generic name zalunfiban), that prevents blood platelets from sticking together. Platelets sticking together initiates the blood clots that cause heart attacks. Crucially, RUC-4 is designed to be administered in the ambulance or even self-administered via a simple injection device. Dr. Coller discusses this potential drug’s development and the promising results from early clinical trials.
Learn more about Rockefeller, Dr. Coller’s ongoing research, and support the university at https://www.rockefeller.edu/
