VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 26, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cardiome Pharma Corp. (Nasdaq:CRME) (TSX:COM) today announced it has granted consent for the transfer of rights for the development and commercialization of vernakalant (IV) in Canada, Mexico and the United States, from Astellas US LLC (“Astellas”), the U.S. subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc., to Merck & Co., Inc.. Merck now holds exclusive global rights to the intravenous (IV) formulation of vernakalant (vernakalant [IV]) for rapid conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in adults. Vernakalant (IV) is currently marketed in the European Union (EU), and other countries under the trade name BRINAVESS™. Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, also has exclusive global rights to the oral formulation of vernakalant (vernakalant [oral]) which is being studied for the maintenance of normal heart rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation.
