According to recent announcement by ARCA Biopharma, which creates therapies that are genetically targeted for treating heart diseases, it will join with Medtronic to perform a clinical trial (called GENETIC-AF) on the drug Gencaro (bucindolol hydrochloride).

The trial is going to compare Gencaro to metoprolol CR/XL for is uses as a prevention for AF in the patients who are suffering from heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFREF). The goal of ARCA during the trial is to only include the patients that possess the genetic variant of the beta-1 cardiac receptor that ARCA thinks will respond the best to the Gencaro. With Medtronic’s aid, ARCA is hoping that the two companies can also perform a substudy that will also include researchers keeping a constant eye on the heart rhythms of all of the people participating in the GENETIC-AF study.

“We are excited about our collaboration with Medtronic on GENETIC-AF,” says Dr. Michael Bristow, MD, PhD, president and CEO of ARCA. “We believe that the use of implanted, continuous monitoring devices that allow for the more precise measurement of atrial fibrillation represents the next generation of diagnosis and treatment options for patients at risk for this disease. The GENETIC-AF trial has the potential to result in an approvable new therapy that is safe and effective for HFREF patients at high risk for atrial fibrillation.”

Should the trial prove Gencaro to be successful, previously-used medications for treating AF may have a safer alternative. AF is a condition that is characterized with patients suffering from fluttering and irregular heartbeats. The condition is treated with numerous drugs including Multaq. Multaq is made by Sanofi-Aventis and has been linked to serious side effects including a worsening of the heart condition, liver failure and lung toxicity. It is for this reason that the FDA has recommended that doctors only prescribe Multaq if all other medications fail to work.

If you or a loved one has suffered from liver failure or a worsening heart condition after being treated with Multaq, contact the attorneys at Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.