SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Top-line preliminary data from a Phase II/III clinical trial of Corthera’s investigational drug relaxin for the treatment of acute heart failure will be presented next week at a satellite symposium at the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2008 in New Orleans.
John R. Teerlink, M.D., Professor of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, will present the data from the multicenter, international Pre/RELAX-AHF study as part of a symposium entitled “Tailoring Therapy to Presentation” that will focus on new approaches to the treatment of acute heart failure. The symposium will take place from 6 a.m. CST to 8 a.m. CST on Monday, Nov. 10, in the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.
According to the AHA, heart failure is a costly syndrome contributing to more than 3 million hospitalizations each year in the U.S. The great majority of patients with acute heart failure have fluid accumulation in the lungs (congestion) that causes shortness of breath and other complications. For these patients, the current standard of care includes diuretics and vasodilators. Both of these classes of agents have been associated with renal impairment, hypotension and adverse outcomes.
About Relaxin
Relaxin is a naturally occurring peptide hormone that acts as a systemic and renal vasodilator. Elevated levels of relaxin modulate increases in renal and cardiac function that meet the increased hemodynamic demands of pregnancy. Consistent with this natural role of the hormone, pharmaceutically manufactured relaxin has been shown to have these effects in multiple human studies of men and non-pregnant women. Data from a pilot study in patients with heart failure support the expectation that these effects may be beneficial in relieving the signs and symptoms of heart failure.
About Corthera
Corthera Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company committed to acquiring, developing and commercializing therapies for illnesses in the acute care setting. Corthera’s lead product candidate, relaxin, is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for acute heart failure. Corthera has worldwide rights to develop and commercialize relaxin.
About the Satellite Symposium
Dr. Teerlink is the chair of the symposium and co-principal investigator of the Pre/RELAX-AHF study. Additional speakers will include Dr. Marco Metra, associate professor of cardiology, Department of Experimental and Applied Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy, and Dr. Gregg Fonarow, professor of medicine, UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Metra is also co-principal investigator of the Pre/RELAX-AHF Study. Additional symposium information can be found at:
CONTACT: Andreas Marathovouniotis, +1-212-845-4235,
andreas.marathis@russopartnersllc.com, or Ian Stone, +1-619-814-3510,
ian.stone@russopartnersllc.com, both of Russo Partners for Corthera
Web site: http://www.thrombo.net/tailoring-therapy/tailoring-therapy.pdf//
