Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals Plays Pivotal Role in Advancing New Drug for Heart Attack into Clinical Trials
March 31, 2026
UH Research & Education Institute
Development of a new heart attack drug, zalunfiban (DisaggproTM), showed promising results in a pivotal Phase III clinical trial, marking a major milestone toward improving treatment options for patients. This achievement was reached, in part, with support from Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals, a philanthropic organization with a mission to create new medicines for unmet need.
Barry Coller, MD, vice president for medical affairs, David Rockefeller Professor, head of the Allen and Frances Adler Laboratory of Blood and Vascular Biology, and physician-in-chief at The Rockefeller University, and co-founder of CeleCor, lead inventor of zalunfiban, received Harrington’s physician-scientist award in 2015, which helped advance the development and testing of zalunfiban in the pre-clinical setting and provided a business case for investment.
Most discoveries in academia fail to advance into new treatments for patients. Harrington Discovery Institute supports physicians and scientists in advancing discoveries from academic labs into clinical practice by providing advanced drug and business development support, grant funding, and the opportunity to compete for acceleration funds and qualify for investment opportunities.
Zalufiban’s progress is a prime example of how Harrington helps bridge the gap between early scientific discovery and clinical or commercial success.
Expanding Access to Early Heart Attack Intervention Before Patients Reach the Hospital
Zalunfiban, from CeleCor Therapeutics, is a next-generation antiplatelet drug intended to prevent blood clots, which cause heart attacks.
Designed for use by first responders and emergency room personnel, zalunfiban acts on the platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor to reduce clot formation or re-open the artery. The drug is administered subcutaneously to speed delivery.
The safety and efficacy of a single subcutaneous injection of zalunifiban in heart attack patients was evaluated in CELEBRATE, a Phase III prospective, blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The study enrolled 2,467 patients at 45 sites in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Eligible STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) patients were enrolled in the ambulance or in a hospital emergency department.
Results of the notable Phase III CELEBRATE clinical trial showed zalunfiban met its efficacy and safety endpoints in the treatment of STEMI patients and were announced as part of the late-breaking sessions at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans last November.
Bridging Academic Discovery and Clinical Impact Through Expert Drug and Commercialization Support
Harrington’s Scholar-Innovator Award enabled Dr. Coller with the scientific, business, commercialization and clinical trial support he needed to advance the development and testing of zalunfiban in a pre-hospital setting. Every year, Harrington’s Scholar-Innovator Award recognizes up to 12 outstanding physician-scientists, whose work has potential to advance standard of care, cultivating a major pipeline for innovative discoveries that advance potential treatments. For Dr. Coller, being named a Harrington-Scholar was a game-changing opportunity.
“My therapeutics development advisory team at Harrington Discovery Institute played a crucial role in where we are today,” says Dr. Coller. “They offered access to experts in multiple disciplines, which led us to reconsider the route of administration, and initiate much-needed reimbursement strategies. This positioning was instrumental in attracting new funding to advance the medication into clinical trials.”
For this project specifically, Harrington’s experts advised Dr. Coller that the drug would be administered more effectively if it was given as a subcutaneous injection and then help develop the injectable formulation.
Secondly, there was concern that the drug might not be profitable due to ambulance payments being bundled. Harrington commissioned a reimbursement strategy report for patients treated in ambulances. The results of this report helped Dr. Coller and Rockefeller bring in significant new funding to help advance the drug into clinical trials.
“Dr. Coller’s work is an excellent example of our mission being accomplished. We are privileged to have been able to contribute,” says Jonathan Stamler, MD, President and Co-Founder of Harrington Discovery Institute; Distinguished University Professor; Robert S. and Sylvia K. Reitman Family Foundation Professor of Cardiovascular Innovation at University Hospitals; and Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Zalunfiban underscores how UH fulfills its mission “To Discover”, advancing high‑value science into care pathways that save lives. Through Harrington’s unique model of sourcing and advancing breakthrough science through hands‑on drug development, regulatory, and commercialization support, UH is advancing the nation’s standard of care. As the next wave of UH‑led therapies moves forward, the goal remains clear: deliver safer, faster, and more effective treatments to the patients and families who depend on them.