Cardurion Pharmaceuticals Announces Initiation of Phase 1 Study of CRD-733

Cardurion Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for CRD-733, a Phosphodiesterase-9 (PDE-9) inhibitor in development to improve cardiac function in heart failure patients. Recent evidence supports that inhibition of PDE-9 has the potential to restore heart-protective mechanisms that are dysfunctional in heart failure, as well as improve heart muscle function and size. A Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of orally administered single and multiple doses of CRD-733 in healthy volunteers was recently initiated.

“The advancement of CRD-733 into the clinic is an important milestone for Cardurion as we move our portfolio’s lead program forward toward treatment of heart failure, the most important unmet need in cardiovascular medicine,” said Daniel Bloomfield, M.D., chief executive officer at Cardurion Pharmaceuticals. “Compelling preclinical evidence supports that CRD-733 can enhance cardiac function in both known forms of heart failure. With limited options at present for those living with heart failure, we are excited about the potential for CRD-733 to have a positive impact on these patients.”

Cardurion Pharmaceuticals entered an exclusive licensing agreement with Astellas to develop and commercialize CRD-733 earlier this year.