Targeting protein kinase C: A novel paradigm for heart failure therapy

Heart failure continues to be a disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality in both children and adults. Guidelines exist for the recommended management of heart failure in both populations. Many of these therapies are targeted at the neurohormonal response that occurs in heart failure. Although recent additions have been made to the guidelines for the use of novel oral therapies in heart failure, the impact of these therapies in real-world practice remains to be seen. There are additional targets in heart failure that have been unexplored in clinical studies. One such target is the protein kinase C family of proteins which have deleterious effects in the setting of heart failure. Herein, we will explain the rationale for targeting these proteins and discuss an ongoing clinical trial to assess for safety and efficacy of a drug that directly inhibits some of the isozymes of the protein kinase C family, protein kinase C α and β.