Sanofi-aventis granted class I ESC recommendation for Multaq

Sanofi-aventis has received a class I recommendation for its drug Multaq to be used as a first-line treatment option for sufferers of atrial fibrillation.

The European Society of Cardiology's (ESC's) 2010 guidelines for the management of the disease have endorsed Sanofi-aventis' drug for maintaining sinus rhythm in all patients with paroxysmal and persistent fibrillation, other than those with certain types of congestive heart failure.

According to the documentation, the drug has been shown to be "beneficial, useful and effective" by A-grade evidence, while the guidelines also specified that the treatment can help to reduce rates of hospitalisation.

Dr Marc Cluzel, executive vice-president of research and development at Sanofi-aventis, expressed satisfaction with this recognition of the treatment's efficacy and extensive clinical development.

He said: "Multaq provides symptom control and, for the first time for an anti-arrhythmic drug, a long-term benefit by reducing the risk of distressing and repeat cardiovascular hospitalisations."

Sanofi-aventis is currently conducting a large-scale phase IIIb clinical trial of Multaq, named Pallas, which aims to establish the drug's efficacy in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events among atrial fibrillation patients.