Broomfield, Colo. and Toronto, September 22, 2008 – Michael Bristow, MD, PhD, the chief science and medical officer of ARCA biopharma, today received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Executive Council of the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) for his role in advancing scientific knowledge and improving the practice of treating patients with heart failure. This peer-nominated award pays tribute to a lifetime body of work by an individual who has made a significant and sustained contribution to the field of heart failure.
Bristow currently serves as Professor of Medicine in Cardiology at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, where he headed the Cardiology Division from 1991 to 2004. He is also the Co-Director of the University of Colorado Cardiovascular Institute. Bristow has authored more than 350 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters on heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. He was the lead investigator for the Comparison of Medical Therapy, Pacing, and Defibrillation in Chronic Heart Failure (COMPANION) trial and has been involved with many other heart failure trials, including the Beta-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial (BEST).
“Mike’s contribution to the field of heart failure is remarkable,” said Richard B. Brewer, president and chief executive officer of ARCA. “He has served as a tireless champion for patients. As a founding member of HFSA, he has demonstrated his commitment to elevating scientific knowledge. We are proud to have him as a member of the ARCA team as we develop genetically targeted therapies for heart failure.”
Prior to joining ARCA, Bristow was also the principal founder and former chief science and medical officer of Myogen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that developed treatments for hypertension. At Myogen, Bristow led a drug discovery research program focused on the development of disease-modifying drugs for the treatment of chronic heart failure and related cardiovascular disorders. Myogen was acquired by Gilead Sciences, Inc., in 2006.
“Mike has always been driven by a passion to understand mechanisms of disease and exploit such knowledge to improve patient outcomes,” said Dr. William Abraham, Director of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Ohio State University Medical Center. “His academic focus has shifted to pharmacogenetic targeting of treatment, unraveling a mystery the heart failure community has been grappling with for years and allowing the selection of the right drug for the right patient.”
About ARCA biopharma ARCA biopharma, Inc. is a privately held company focused on developing and commercializing genetically targeted therapies for heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. The Company’s lead product, bucindolol, is an investigational, pharmacologically unique beta-blocker and mild vasodilator being developed for heart failure and other indications. ARCA has identified common genetic variations that predict individual patient response to bucindolol. ARCA, in partnership with Laboratory Corporation of America, is developing a companion genetic test for bucindolol. For more information please visit www.arcabiopharma.com.