RESEARCHERS in Bradford have launched a cutting-edge trial, which could save the lives of patients who have suffered heart attacks.

The study is being run under the auspices of the National Institute for Health Research Patient Recruitment Centre (PRC), which is hosted by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and run by the Bradford Institute for Health Research, which is based at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

This latest research trial for PRC Bradford was made possible by a £7 million Government investment.

The late-phase ‘DAPA-MI’ clinical research trial evaluates AstraZeneca's drug, Farxiga (dapagliflozin) as a treatment to reduce mortality and the risk of heart failure following a heart attack.

Consultant cardiologist Dr Steven Lindsay is leading the study in Bradford.

He said: “The drug has already been used successfully to treat diabetes and in non-diabetic patients with heart failure but this new study looks into its effectiveness in the treatment of patients who suffer a heart attack. The trial will evaluate how effective dapagliflozin is in preventing those patients from then going on to develop heart failure or even dying.

“This is a placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial."