I.V. Formulation To Significantly Increase MC-1's
Therapeutic Potential
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -(Sept. 20, 2004) - Medicure
Inc. (TSX: MPH / Amex: MCU), a cardiovascular drug discovery and
development company, is pleased to announce the development of an
intravenous (I.V.) formulation of the Company's lead drug MC-1 after
successful completion of a Phase I clinical trial to assess its
safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers. This new product
presentation, which complements the existing oral dosage form, broadens
MC-1's use as a cardioprotective agent in the management of cardiovascular
emergencies.
MC-1 has demonstrated cardioprotective properties when given orally
to patients undergoing high-risk angioplasty. Medicure's proprietary
I.V. formulation will now permit cardiovascular patients to receive
MC-1 where oral administration is not viable, or the rapid attainment
of the target drug levels in the blood is desirable. Hospitalized
patients treated for stroke or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) will
benefit most from this product line extension.
"The new I.V. formulation complements our oral form of MC-1,
and permits the broadest possible range of alternatives to the physician
for initiation and maintenance therapy for cardioprotection in patients
experiencing acute cardiovascular events," stated Albert D.
Friesen Ph.D, Medicure's President & CEO. "This development
will benefit a greater number of patients in situations where MC-1
can not be orally administered."
Medicure's recently completed Phase I trial clearly demonstrated
the safety and tolerability of MC-1 in an intravenous formulation.
As with the oral administration, there was a notable absence of
any significant adverse cardiovascular effects, which are a factor
in the use of many other cardiovascular products.
"The positive results of this study support the use of this
product in Phase II and Phase III clinical studies," Dr. Friesen
added. "The I.V. formulation will provide Medicure the opportunity
to significantly expand the market potential of MC-1 in treating
cardiovascular disease."
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 treatment of acute coronary syndromes and
as an adjunct to cardiovascular intervention such as angioplasty
and coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG). Medicure's ongoing Phase
II/III MEND-CABG clinical trial is evaluating the cardioprotective
and neuroprotective effects of oral MC-1 in patients undergoing
high-risk Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. The cardiovascular
and stroke market is the largest pharmaceutical sector with annual
global sales of over US $70 billion.
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. The company is currently enrolling
patients in the Phase II MATCHED study (MC-1 and ACE Therapeutic
Combination for Hypertensive Diabetics), which is evaluating the
effects of MC-1 alone and in combination with an ACE inhibitor in
control of blood pressure, metabolism and other endpoints in diabetic
hypertensive patients. 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 molecule, 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:
Don Bain
Director of Investor & Public Relations
Derek Reimer
Chief Financial Officer
Medicure Inc.
888-435-2220
204-488-9823 fax
info@medicure.com
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