Merck Sharpe and Dohme publishes trial data for AF treatment

Merck Sharpe and Dohme has published data from a new clinical trial which demonstrates the effectiveness of one of its atrial fibrillation (AF) treatments.

The phase III Avro study was conducted among 254 patients and was designed to compare Brinavess, developed by Merck Sharpe and Dohme and Cardiome Pharma, with an amiodarone injection treatment.

It was found that Brinavess showed superior performance in converting patients’ heart rates from AF to sinus rhythm, with conversion among those who did respond taking a median time of 11 minutes.

Dr John Camm, professor of clinical cardiology at St George’s, University of London and lead investigator of the Avro study, described the drug’s safety and efficacy results as “encouraging”.

He added: “It is important to have therapies that convert patients back to a normal heart rhythm as quickly as possible.”

Last week, Merck Sharpe and Dohme revealed positive trial data from a phase III study to determine the safety profile of the shingles vaccine Zostavax.