A new medical innovation offers hope for solving the global heart transplant shortage: a “heart patch” made from stem cells. This breakthrough, developed by scientists in Germany, could provide a temporary solution for patients waiting for a heart transplant or even offer a permanent fix.
Currently, thousands of people in the U.S. are waiting for heart transplants, with some facing waiting times of six months or more. Tragically, some will die before they can receive a transplant, including one out of every eight children on the waiting list. Globally, the situation is equally dire, with 20 people dying every day while waiting for any organ transplant.
The heart patch is made from adult human stem cells and can be sutured onto a patient’s heart through minimally invasive surgery. These patches contain lab-grown cardiac tissue, which consists of up to 200 million cells embedded in a collagen hydrogel. The patch, known as engineered heart muscle (EHM), was initially tested on rhesus macaques and showed promising results. The first human recipient, a 46-year-old woman, received the patch in 2021, allowing her to survive until she could get a heart transplant. Since then, 15 other patients with severe heart failure have received the patch, with more data expected later this year.
This innovation is part of the larger effort to address the heart transplant crisis. Approximately 50,000 people worldwide suffer from end-stage heart failure, yet only 5,000 heart transplants are performed annually due to the shortage of donor hearts. Meanwhile, over 6 million Americans live with heart failure, and this number is expected to rise as the population ages. The heart patch could offer a “bridge-to-transplant” option for these patients and may even reduce the need for a transplant altogether in the future.
What makes these heart patches remarkable is that they are created from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are reprogrammed from adult stem cells to become any type of cell, including cardiomyocytes, the muscle cells of the heart. This approach avoids the ethical issues associated with using embryonic stem cells. Additionally, the patches have been designed to avoid common complications like arrhythmia or tumor growth, which can occur when stem cells are used in tissue repair.
The potential for scaling up this technology is high. Sian Harding, a pharmacologist, believes that producing these patches on a larger scale is feasible. She estimates that making a solid piece of heart tissue the size of a palm would cost around $15,000, which is reasonable considering the potential benefits of a heart implant.
Currently, other treatments for heart failure include medications, mechanical devices, and lifestyle changes. Common medications such as ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers help manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. However, these treatments can lose effectiveness over time or may not be enough for patients who will ultimately need a transplant. Mechanical devices like left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are lifesaving but require invasive surgery and the patient must carry external equipment, which can be cumbersome.
One of the major barriers to heart transplantation is the shortage of available organs. In the U.S., thousands of people are waiting for heart transplants, yet many of the available organs go unused due to systemic issues in the organ donation process. Currently, the U.S. operates on an “opt-in” organ donation system, where individuals must actively register to donate. In contrast, countries like England and Wales have an “opt-out” system, where organ donation is assumed unless the person explicitly chooses not to donate. Shifting to an opt-out system in the U.S. could help alleviate the shortage of organs and make the transplant process more efficient.
In conclusion, the heart patch technology represents a significant advancement in treating heart failure and could help bridge the gap in the organ transplant system. As research continues, the hope is that these patches will not only save lives but potentially reduce the reliance on organ donation altogether.v
