Merck gives back vernakalant rights
pharmafile | September 28, 2012 | News story | Sales and Marketing | AF, Cardiome, Merck, vernakalant
Merck has dealt a further blow to Cardiome Pharma Corp by handing back all marketing and development rights for the latter’s atrial fibrillation (AF) drug vernakalant.
Merck ceased work with Cardiome on an oral formulation of the pill in March – a decision at which the Canadian biopharma firm said it was ‘extremely disappointed’.
Merck at that time confirmed it would continue to support the intravenous (IV) form of vernakalant, which is approved in Europe and Latin America – although not yet in the US or Canada – as Brinavess.
However, Merck has now formally relinquished its global rights for both the IV and oral versions of the drug – acquired in 2009 for an initial fee of $60 million – a move Merck referred to only as a ‘business decision’.
Vernakalant IV is indicated for the rapid conversion of recent onset AF to sinus rhythm in adults, for non-surgery patients with AF of seven days or less and for post-cardiac surgery patients with AF of three days or less.
“We continue to support the safety and efficacy profile of vernakalant,” said Michael Mendelsohn, head of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular research, Merck Research Laboratories.
“We look forward to working with Cardiome to conduct a transition that has the best interests of patients and their physicians in mind,” he added.
It is not known what the financial effect of Merck’s decision will be, but when Merck stopped work on the oral version of vernakalant, Cardiome had to reduce its annual operating cash by half, to a target of C$11 million, to deal with the impact.
William Hunter, interim chief executive of Cardiome, put a brave face on Merck’s volte-face, saying he looked forward to Brinavess IV’s progress worldwide.
He welcomed “the opportunity to continue development of vernakalant oral worldwide and vernakalant IV in North America”.
“We thank Merck for its contribution to the Vernakalant program and anticipate a smooth transition for the physicians and patients who rely on Brinavess,” Hunter concluded.
AF is a potentially lucrative pharma market, with the condition affecting 2.5 million people in the US, and 4.5 million in the EU.
Adam Hill
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