By Jason Derry —

Merck has announced an agreement to acquire NovaCardia for $350 million.  NovaCardia, a biotechnology company based in San Diego, has a lead drug candidate, KW-3902, in Phase III clinical trials for treating acute congestive heart failure.  Merck hopes to expand its pipeline for
cardiovascular therapeutics with the purchase of NovaCardia, which has a second compound (K201) currently slated for Phase II clinical trial for treating atrial fibrillation.

Jason Derry, Ph.D., who graduated with honors from DePaul University
College of Law, is a molecular biologist and founding author of Patent Docs.