Disease-Modifying Extracellular Vesicle Therapies for
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a progressive disease driven in part by inflammation and fibrotic remodeling of the atria. Current therapies control rhythm or rate but do not directly target this underlying substrate. Rhythm Biotherapeutics is developing heart-derived extracellular vesicle (EV) therapies designed to suppress atrial inflammation, limit fibrosis, and prevent atrial fibrillation.
Rhythm Biotherapeutics is developing a new class of heart-derived extracellular vesicle therapeutics for atrial fibrillation.
Our lead program, RBEX-101, is being developed to prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery. Published studies in rodent and large-animal models demonstrate marked reductions in atrial fibrillation, inflammation, and fibrosis, supported by mechanistic studies in primary human atrial cells.
RBEX-101 is now advancing through IND-enabling development toward first-in-human clinical testing planned for 2027.
Latest News, Presentations & Papers
PRESENTATION
Chantal Martin Invited to Present at GEIVEX 2026
Invited presentation: “A Path to a Phase-1 Ready EV Manufacturing Process.”
October 7, 2026 | GEIVEX 2026, Bilbao, Spain
PRESENTATION
Rhythm Biotherapeutics Research Featured at the 2026 Gordon Research Conference on Extracellular Vesicles
New data presented on systemic EV delivery and thermoresponsive hydrogel-based atrial delivery.
August 9–14, 2026, Gordon Research Conference, Castelldefels, Spain
PAPER
"Human atrial extracellular vesicles suppress NLRP3 inflammasome activation and profibrotic signaling in a patient-specific iPSC model of postoperative atrial fibrillation"
March 30, 2026, Theranostics
PRESENTATION
"Biodistribution, Safety and Efficacy of Extracellular Vesicle-based Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation in Murine and Porcine Models of Sterile Pericarditis"
April 22, 2025, Heart Rhythm Society HRS25
PRESENTATION
“Human extracellular vesicles prevent inflammation and fibrosis in a human model of postoperative atrial fibrillation”
November 10, 2024, Houston, Texas, at the American Association of Extracellular Vesicles AAEV2024 conference
PAPER
“RNA and the emerging potential of bio-inspired molecules in cardiovascular disease therapies”
June 13, 2024, European Heart Journal
PAPER
“Inactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome mediates exosome-based prevention of atrial fibrillation”
January 1, 2024, Theranostics
NEWS
Rhythm Biotherapeutics Selected as an HRX Live 2026 Pitch Competition Semi-Finalist
September 2026, HRX Live 2026
PAPER
GMP-Grade Heart-Derived EVs Prevent Postoperative AF in a Porcine Model
May 2026, JACC: Basic to Translational Science
PRESENTATION
Darryl Davis is honoured to present "Native EVs for Therapy" at the University of Virginia's "Tiny Packages with Big Impact" EV Workshop
February 7, 2026, University of Virginia
NEWS
"Capital BioVentures Announces Inaugural Cohort for Ottawa Biotech Accelerator Program"
December 3, 2024, BioSpace
PRESENTATION
“Extracellular Vesicle Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation” and “Arrhythmias in a Model of Chronic Inflammation”
September 26, 2024, Sydney Australia, at the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society 2024 conference
PAPER
“Atrial Fibrosis and Inflammation in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Comparative Effects of Amiodarone, Colchicine, or Exosomes”
June 10, 2024, JACC Clinical Electrophysiology
PAPER
“Prevention of atrial fibrillation after open-chest surgery with extracellular vesicle therapy”
June 29, 2023, JCI Insight
PRESENTATION
Darryl Davis Delivers Bruce McManus Lecture at UBC
“From Cardiac Repair to Rhythm Control: Developing Extracellular Vesicle Therapies for Atrial Fibrillation”
August 2026, UBC Centre for Heart Lung Innovation
PRESENTATION
Systemic EV Therapy for Ambulatory and Post-Ablation Atrial Fibrillation
April 23, 2026, Heart Rhythm Society HRS26
NEWS
Darryl Davis is honoured to co-chair the 2025 conference of the American Association of Extracellular Vesicles in Salt Lake City, UT
November 20, 2025, AAEV2025
NEWS
“Finding its rhythm: Startup seeks $4M in funding for trailblazing atrial fibrillation treatment”
November 15, 2024, Ottawa Business Journal
PRESENTATION
“Exosome-Based Prevention of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation”
June 15th, 2024, in Taiyuan China, at the International Forum on Cardiovascular Disease, Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering
PAPER
“Exploring Patient Viewpoints to Optimize Implementation of a Biological Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation Prevention”
April 16, 2024, CJC Open
PAPER
“Extracellular vesicle microRNA and protein cargo profiling in three clinical-grade stem cell products reveals key functional pathways”
June 13, 2023, Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids
Contact Us
H3214 40 Ruskin St.
Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7 Canada
+1-613-696-7298
