BridgeBio Pharma is teaming up with BlackDoctor and HealthyWomen to highlight how the heart condition ATTR-cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is being “systematically missed in women.”
The condition is a potentially fatal disease of the heart muscle in which the protein transthyretin becomes misshapen and builds up in the heart, nerves and other organs.
When these protein deposits accumulate in the heart, the walls can become stiff. As the condition worsens, the heart can struggle to pump blood, potentially leading to heart failure.
Diagnosis can be difficult because early symptoms—such as fatigue, leg swelling and shortness of breath—can be mistaken for other, less serious conditions.
A new survey found that ATTR-CM is not only underdiagnosed, but that “it’s systematically missed in women,” according to a May 14 release. Many respondents reported being told their symptoms were likely related to menopause.
The release also says that 1 in 25 Black Americans carries a genetic variant associated with hereditary ATTR-CM, specifically the V122I variant.
Responses from more than 1,000 participants showed that despite strong interest in understanding heart health risks, “most Black women have never heard of ATTR-CM, and almost none have ever been screened for it.”
The survey found that 73% of respondents had never heard of ATTR-CM, while 85% were unaware that the disease is often underdiagnosed in the Black community.
A striking 95% had never been screened for ATTR-CM, while just 3% had ever discussed the condition with a healthcare provider.
“ATTR-CM has long been viewed through the lens of men’s health, but women are not exempt from this disease,” Uma Sinha, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of BridgeBio, said in the release.
“They are living with it, often without knowing it, and they are suffering the consequences of delayed diagnosis and undertreated disease. This Women’s Health Month, we are committed to changing that. By partnering with BlackDoctor and HealthyWomen, we are working to ensure that women have the information, tools and access to care they deserve.”
BridgeBio Pharma currently markets the ATTR-CM treatment Attruby, which won approval in late 2024. The treatment generated $146 million in fourth-quarter sales, representing a 35% sequential increase.