Cardiome Pharma Corp.
Vancouver, BC
Company Overview
Cardiome Pharma Corp. is a product-focused cardiovascular drug development company with three late stage clinical drug programs focused on atrial arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and hyperuricemia (gout).
Cardiomes lead antiarrhythmic product, RSD1235, is designed to be an acute-use, intravenous administration treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition in which the atria of the heart beat rapidly and erratically. Cardiome has initiated three phase 3 studies for intravenous RSD1235. The first, ACT 1, will provide data on the level of safety and effectiveness of RSD1235 in the acute treatment of AF and atrial flutter. The second, ACT 2, will focus on patients with AF occurring after coronary artery bypass graft or valve replacement surgery. In July 2004, Cardiome initiated ACT 3, the third Phase 3 clinical trial for IV RSD1235. ACT 3 is being conducted by co-development partner Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. and will measure the safety and efficacy of RSD1235 in recent onset atrial arrhythmia patients. In a proof-of-concept oral dosing study in humans completed in December 2002, RSD1235 was also shown to have high oral bioavailability, suggesting it could be used for chronic oral therapy, a program for which Cardiome expects to initiate clinical studies by the end of 2004.
Cardiomes lead drug in the congestive heart failure (CHF) area is oxypurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. CHF is the failure of the heart to pump blood at a rate sufficient to support the bodys needs. Oxypurinol sensitizes cardiac muscle cells to intracellular calcium, leading to increased cardiac oxygen-use efficiency. Cardiome believes that increasing the cardiac oxygen-use efficiency will improve the clinical outcomes for CHF patients. Oxypurinol is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial that will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of oxypurinol in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe symptomatic CHF (rated by the New York Heart Association as class III-IV). Cardiome also has a program applying its congestive heart failure product, oxypurinol, for the treatment of allopurinol-intolerant gout. Cardiome is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (COM) and the NASDAQ National Market (CRME). Further information about Cardiome can be found at www. cardiome. com.
Company Information
Physical Address
6190 Agronomy Rd, 6th Floor
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
CA
Mailing Address
6190 Agronomy Rd, 6th Floor
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
CA
Additional Details
Legal Name: Cardiome Pharma Corp.
Number of Employees: 50
CA
Cardiome has developed particular skill and expertise in the lead optimization of ion-channel modulating drugs. This strength is embodied in three key resources which, within Cardiome, are very well-integrated, resulting in fast lead-optimization:
- Synthetic Chemistry
Cardiome's team of synthetic chemists have years of experience in gram-scale synthesis of ion-channel modulating drugs.
- Analytical Chemistry
Cardiome has equipment and full-time analytical staff to make accurate analysis of drug substance concentration, enabling fast determination of PK and ADME parameters.
- In-Vivo and In-Vitro Bioassays
Cardiome has developed strong capability in the areas of in- vitro cardiac pharmacological testing and in electrophysiology.
Operating in close concert, these skills enable rapid evolution of lead molecules to clinical candidates.
Contacts
Gregory Beatch
Title: VP, Scientific Affairs
Area of Responsibility: Research/Development/Engineering
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Don Graham
Title: Director, Corporate Communication
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Fahreen Bhimani
Title: Corporate Communications Manager
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Robert Rieder
Title: President & CEO
Area of Responsibility: Management Executive
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Products
-
Kv1.5
Treatment of atrial arrhythmias by conversion and maintenance to normal sinus rhythm by selective blockade of Kv1.5 channels.
- Oxypurinol For Allopurinol-intolerant Gout
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Oxypurinol For Chf
Cardiomes lead drug in the congestive heart failure (CHF) area is oxypurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. CHF is the failure of the heart to pump blood at a rate sufficient to support the bodys needs. Oxypurinol sensitizes cardiac muscle cells to intracellular calcium, leading to increased cardiac oxygen-use efficiency. Cardiome believes that increasing the cardiac oxygen-use efficiency will improve the clinical outcomes for CHF patients. Oxypurinol is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial that will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of oxypurinol in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe symptomatic CHF (rated by the New York Heart Association as class III-IV).
- Rsd1235
Additional Information
541710