Nottingham – September 09, 2026 -- Isomab Ltd has published a systematic review showing no increased cancer or retinopathy risk from pro-angiogenic therapies for coronary artery disease, removing a two-decade safety barrier that has constrained development across the field.
Review of 636 patients finds malignancy rates below population norms
The analysis covered 11 clinical studies conducted between 2002 and 2024, spanning 636 patients with angina or peripheral artery disease -- 441 receiving pro-angiogenic therapy and 195 on placebo -- with follow-up periods ranging from two to 12 years. Mean malignancy incidence was 0.84 per 100 patient-years for the treatment group versus 0.72 for placebo, both figures falling below the age-matched population rate of 1.0 per 100 patient-years. Retinal events were rare in both cohorts and also below population benchmarks.
Isomab advances ISM-001 antibody toward first-in-human trials
Isomab is preparing to move its lead candidate, ISM-001, into first-in-human trials targeting patients with chronic angina refractory to existing treatment. Unlike conventional growth factor therapies that directly stimulate vessel growth, ISM-001 is a first-in-class antibody designed to selectively target VEGF-A165b, a molecule that inhibits angiogenesis in diseased hearts.
Professor David Bates, Isomab's Chief Scientific Officer and a study author, said the findings resolve safety questions that have clouded perception of the entire treatment class. He noted that ISM-001 works by removing an overactive brake on angiogenesis caused by cardiovascular disease, rather than forcing blood vessel growth artificially.
CEO cites disease burden in framing commercial opportunity
Dr Philip Brainin, Isomab's CEO, pointed to the continuing scale of coronary artery disease as creating a substantial opportunity to alter its clinical course. The company is positioning ISM-001 as a treatment paradigm centered on rebalancing VEGF-A signaling to restore the heart's natural capacity for repair.