WINNIPEG, Manitoba - September 26, 2003. Medicure
Inc. (TSX:MPH), a cardiovascular drug discovery and development
company, is pleased to announce that the results from the MEND-1
study, a phase II clinical trial evaluating the cardioprotective
effects of MC-1, were presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular
Therapeutics (TCT) 2003 Scientific Sessions in Washington, D.C.
The presentation was made by Dr. David Kandzari, Assistant Professor
of Medicine and Director of Interventional Cardiology Research at
the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, North Carolina.
"The positive results from MEND-1 demonstrated the potential
for MC-1 to have cardioprotective effects by significantly reducing
the amount of damage to the heart in high-risk patients undergoing
angioplasty," said Dr. Kandzari. "This is quite noteworthy,
because developments such as this will improve the early and late
clinical outcomes of cardiovascular patients at risk for developing
myocardial ischemia, infarction, and reperfusion injury."
The MEND-1 trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded
study, which evaluated the extent of damage to the heart muscle
caused by ischemia and ischemic reperfusion injury in 60 high-risk
cardiovascular patients undergoing angioplasty. Patients enrolled
in this study were determined to be at increased risk for periprocedural
ischemic complications. The trial was conducted at sites in Canada
and the United States and was managed by the Duke Clinical Research
Institute, a recognized leader in cardiovascular clinical trials,
clinical drug research and the evaluation of novel therapeutics.
"The TCT conference is one of the most important events for
physicians and medical practitioners in the fields of interventional
cardiology and interventional vascular medicine, and we were delighted
to have had our MEND-1 results presented by Dr. Kandzari,"
said Albert D. Friesen, PhD, Medicure's President and Chief Executive
Officer. "It is significant for Medicure to have these results
presented to the opinion leaders in the field in which MC-1 will
be used."
The TCT conference is the largest international symposium designed
for physicians and other healthcare professionals with a special
interest in the field of interventional vascular therapy and vascular
medicine. It has become the pre-eminent source for clinical and
technical information and physician education in these rapidly evolving
fields.
About Medicure
Inc.
Medicure
Inc. is a cardiovascular drug discovery and development
Company focused on developing effective therapeutics for unmet needs
in the field of cardiovascular medicine. The Company's lead drug,
MC-1, is focused on the prevention and treatment of ischemia, ischemic
reperfusion injury, and stroke. The cardiovascular and stroke market
is the largest pharmaceutical sector with annual global sales of
over US $70 billion. In the United States alone, more than 7 million
people suffer some form of Acute Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)
annually, 6.2 million suffer from angina and 1.6 million undergo
bypass surgery or angioplasty procedure.
The Company's second product candidate, MC-4232, is being targeted
for the treatment of hypertension, a common disorder in which blood
pressure remains abnormally high. Approximately 73% of the more
than 50 million adult Americans who have hypertension, are not adequately
treated.
Medicure also has a medicinal chemistry based Drug Discovery program
focused on discovery and advancement of novel small molecules, anti-ischemics
and anti-thrombotics towards human clinical studies.
This news release
contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, which may
cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made,
and accordingly may be deemed to be forward-looking statements made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are
made as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any intention
and has no obligation or responsibility to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise.
For more information, please contact:
Derek Reimer
Chief Financial Officer
Don Bain
Director of Investor & Public Relations
