Cardiome Pharma acquires rights to Lilly’s heart drug

GED-aPC is an engineered analog of recombinant human activated Protein C with enhanced anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and strong binding to endothelial protein C receptor properties, and has broad potential across multiple indications. Cardiome intends to initially develop GED-aPC in cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening form of acute circulatory failure due to cardiac dysfunction, which is a leading cause of death for patients hospitalized following a heart attack.

Dr Charles Fisher, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Cardiome, said: “GED-aPC is a pluripotent molecule with multiple mechanisms of action targeting key counter-regulatory pathways, and we believe that these engineered characteristics make it a highly desirable drug candidate for cardiovascular indications.”

Cardiome is planning multi-dose phase I studies for the second half of 2007, with one or more phase II studies in the first half of 2008, pending successful completion of phase I.

Financial terms of the agreement include an upfront payment of US$20 million payable to Lilly and development milestones not to exceed US$40 million contingent on achievement of certain pre-defined late-stage clinical milestones.

Lilly will also be entitled to royalty payments if the molecule is ultimately commercialized. Cardiome estimates that clinical expenditures on the GED-aPC program will be approximately $5 million in 2007.