Merck & Co., Inc.
In April 2009, Merck & Co., Inc. and Cardiome announced a collaboration and license agreement for the development and commercialization agreement for vernakalant. The agreement provides Merck with exclusive global rights to the oral formulation of vernakalant (vernakalant [oral]) for the maintenance of normal heart rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation, and provides a Merck affiliate, Merck Sharp & Dohme (Switzerland) GmbH, with exclusive rights outside of the United States, Canada and Mexico to the intravenous (IV) formulation of vernakalant (vernakalant [IV]) for rapid conversion of acute atrial fibrillation to normal heart rhythm.
Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
In October 2003, Cardiome granted Astellas Pharma US, Inc. (formerly Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc.) an exclusive license to develop and commercialize the intravenous formulation of vernakalant in North America. The companies have co-developed vernakalant (iv) to NDA, with Astellas responsible for 75% of development costs.
* Note: In September 2006, Cardiome announced that RSD1235 has been assigned the name "vernakalant hydrochloride" by the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council. References to RSD1235 (iv) are now vernakalant (iv), and references to RSD1235 (oral) are now vernakalant (oral).