Merck Sharpe and Dohme welcomes EU recommendation for Brinavess

Merck Sharpe and Dohme has been given the backing of the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) over its new atrial fibrillation drug Brinavess (vernakalant).

The treatment, which has been developed in collaboration with Cardiome Pharma, is being positioned as the first in a new class of pharmacologic agents intended for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

It was given a positive opinion by the CHMP following analysis of clinical data, which supported the treatment’s safety, efficacy and tolerability.

The drug is now expected to be approved for sale across the EU by the European Commission later this year.

Dr Michael Mendelsohn, senior vice-president and head of cardiovascular research at Merck Research Laboratories, said: “Merck is deeply committed to cardiovascular research and we look forward to the European Commission’s decision on vernakalant.”

This comes in the same week that Merck Sharpe and Dohme received a positive CHMP opinion on Sycrest, its treatment for bipolar I disorder.