Merck ends development on atrial fibrillation pill
pharmafile | March 20, 2012 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Cardiome, Merck, atrial fibrillation
Merck will no longer help its partner Cardiome develop an oral formulation of the atrial fibrillation drug vernakalant.
The pill is being studied as a maintenance therapy for the long-term prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence.
Merck said the decision was based on its “assessment of the regulatory environment and projected development timeline”.
Doug Janzen, president and chief executive at Cardiome, said: “It is our understanding that vernakalant oral has continued to have a safe and effective profile as demonstrated by studies conducted since the product was licensed to Merck. We are extremely disappointed with the decision Merck has made.
“However, we look forward to continuing to work with Merck on the worldwide development and commercialisation of vernakalant IV [an intravenous form of the drug].”
Merck confirmed that it would continue to support the intravenous formulation of vernakalant, which is marketed in Europe and Latin America under the trade name Brinavesstm.
This drug is approved for the rapid conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in adults in 37 countries.
Merck has plans to expand the commercialisation of the product throughout this year into new markets, and anticipates launching the drug in around 30 additional countries this year.
Cardiome said it was reviewing the impact of Merck’s decision on its business strategy, and would report the results of the review later this year.
But this will be a blow to the Canadian firm in the short term, and it is reducing its annual operating cash by half, to a target of C$11 million, to deal with the impact of Merck’s decision.
Ben Adams
Related Content
Merck to acquire Curon Biopharmaceutical’s B-Cell Depletion Therapy
Merck have announced that they have entered into an agreement with private biotechnology company Curon …
Merck and Daiichi Sankyo expand development and commericalisation agreement to include MK-6070
Daiichi Sankyo and Merck (known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) have announced …
CHMP gives positive opinion for Merck’s KEYTRUDA for unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma
Merck (known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) has announced that its anti-PD-1 …
