Our name
"Ischemix" (pronounced
iss-KEY-mix) is based on
the word "ischemia" which describes the medical
condition of insufficient blood flow or nutrition to living cells or organs
of the body. The word has a Greek origin;
isch- means restriction, hema or haema refers to blood.
Ischemix is developing
drugs to protect against the damaging effects
associated with ischemia in the heart, brain, and other organs.
What is Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury?
A
heart attack is usually caused by blockage of an artery supplying
the heart. Muscle cells beyond the block are then deprived of
oxygen and nutrients. This ischemia leads to cell death- "myocardial
infarction"-- which may be fatal.
Cardiac surgeries and interventional procedures to restore blood flow may temporarily increase ischemia, and paradoxically result in "reperfusion injury" which can exceed the original ischemic damage. Thus the sequence of events is known as "ischemia-reperfusion" injury. This leads to extended hospital stay and limits recovery in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries and interventional procedures. Such complications add thousands to hospital costs.
About Ischemix
Ischemix
is a privately-held clinical phase company developing drugs to
reduce cell and organ damage associated with ischemia-reperfusion
injury. The Company's leading compound is a unique dual-function
molecule. The first stage of human clinical trials of this compound
has been completed. Ischemix is poised for proof-of-principle studies
in prevention of adverse events in patients undergoing a cardiac interventional procedure.