Cardiome to commercialize AOP Orphan Pharma's Esmocard in certain EU markets

Canada’s Cardiome Pharma (TSX: COM) has entered a commercialization agreement with Austrian drugmaker AOP Orphan Pharma to sell AOP's cardiovascular products, Esmocard and Esmocard LYO (esmolol hydrochloride) in Italy, France, Spain and Belgium. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Esmocard is indicated for supraventricular tachycardia (except for pre-excitation syndromes) and for the rapid control of the ventricular rate in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in perioperative, postoperative, or other circumstances where short-term control of the ventricular rate with a short-acting agent is desirable. Esmocard is also indicated for tachycardia and hypertension occurring in the perioperative phase and non-compensatory sinus tachycardia where, in the physician's judgement the rapid heart rate requires specific intervention.

"We are pleased to extend our relationship with AOP by adding their Esmocard franchise to our offering of cardiovascular products in Italy, France, Spain and Belgium," said William Hunter, president and chief executive of Cardiome. "Commercializing Esmocard is highly synergistic with Brinavess [vernakalant intravenous] and Aggrastat [tirofiban] in terms of our target customer that potentially creates a highly efficient detail for our sales force. Furthermore, we believe that by increasing the product's share of voice, we can remind physicians of the value of this important drug while offering them convenient dosing options, especially with Esmocard LYO. "