Whilst we are currently focussed on Remestemcel-L’s ability to...

Whilst we are currently focussed on Remestemcel-L’s ability to relieve the acute impact of COVID-19 particularly on the lungs during ARDS, could Mesoblast also have additional markets to serve in either preventing or treating the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the heart?

COVID-19 survivors have high prevalence of abnormal heartconditions

Information has recently been released from a study undertaken at Edinburgh University (funded by the British Heart Foundation) which has identified that 55% of 1261 people who had survived COVID-19 have had abnormal changes to the function of their heart with one in seven showing evidence of severe disfunction.
https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/coronavirus-may-have-devastating-impact-on-the-heart/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jul/13/heart-scans-of-covid-19-patients-show-range-of-abnormalities

Inflammation from over-reaction from immune response causing heart failure

An Australian study is presently underway regarding long-term consequences of COVID-19 on the heart. Sean Lal is a cardiologist from RPA hospital who postulated that inflammation arising from the immune response during COVID-19 pneumonia could be causing scarring of the heart. He cited that 1/3 of patients from ICU had elevated troponin which is a specific blood marker of heart damage. He noted surprisingly high prevalence in youngpeople.

Studies are underway to assess what the long-term impacts may be. Sean Lal suggested arrhythmia or heart failure are likely future symptoms of COVID-19 survivors who have suffered this damage.

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/drumRefer to the latest episode of the Drum (14 July) from about 23:50

Could Remestemcel-L reduce these impacts?

Mesoblast have described that Remestemcel-L can modulate the immune response during ARDS to help control inflammation. We keenly await the results of Mesoblast’s current trial to assess of benefits to ARDS patients with a particular focus on all-cause mortality after 30 days. I wonder if the efficacy of this treatment might be proven to be even greater after a longer period?

Could Revascor potentially have a significantly larger future market?

Mesoblast have identified that chronic heart failure affects about 2% of US citizens and that its prevalence is expected to grow 46% by 2030, affecting more than 8 million Americans. As we see increasing numbers of cases of COVID-19 throughout the US, could we infer that the future prevalence of CHF could be significantly higher?