(RTTNews) – In a new Phase III study, BRINAVESS or vernakalant intravenous, an investigational compound being developed in the European Union by Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) and Cardiome Pharma Corp. (CRME) to treat abnormal heart rhythm, showed that BRINAVESS was superior to amiodarone injection, in converting patients’ heart rate from abnormal heart rhythm to normal rhythm, within 90 minutes of the start of administration.

In the study called AVRO, 51.7% of patients on BRINAVESS converted from abnormal heart rhythm to normal sinus rhythm within 90 minutes. Merck is a global healthcare company and is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Cardiome Pharma Corp. is a product-focused drug development company. BRINAVESS (vernakalant) is a trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.

John Camm, professor of Clinical Cardiology at St George’s, University of London and lead investigator of the AVRO study commented, “Atrial fibrillation is the most common abnormal heart rhythm and its prevalence has increased over the past 20 years. It is important to have therapies that convert patients back to a normal heart rhythm as quickly as possible.”

The company indicated that BRINAVESS is an investigational compound being developed in two formulations, oral and IV, for the treatment of abnormal heart rhythm. BRINAVESS in the intravenous formulation is currently under review in the European Union. BRINAVESS in the oral formulation is being developed for daily maintenance of normal heart rhythm in patients with abnormal heart rhythm.

The company revealed that, in April last year , Cardiome and Merck announced a collaboration for the development and commercialization of vernakalant. The agreement provides a Merck affiliate, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., with exclusive global rights to vernakalant oral, and provides another Merck affiliate, Merck Sharp & Dohme (Switzerland) GmbH, with exclusive rights outside of the United States, Canada and Mexico to vernakalant IV.

MRK is traded at $32.83 down $0.48 or 1.43% on a volume of 7.770 million shares on the NYSE.

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