Tedisamil: a new novel antiarrhythmic.

Bethan Freestone, Gregory Y H Lip

University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK.

Expert opinion on investigational drugs 2004 Feb

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Solvay Pharmaceuticals is currently developing tedisamil (KC-8857), a novel antiarrhythmic with additional anti-ischaemic properties, which acts via potassium channel blockade. This drug can be categorised as a class III antiarrhythmic agent due to its effects of action potential and QT interval prolongation in these patients. This agent was initially developed for its anti-ischaemic properties and Phase I trials have shown tedisamil to be an effective bradycardic agent, as well as causing a reverse rate-dependent QT interval prolongation. Subsequent Phase II results have confirmed that in patients with ischaemic heart disease, tedisamil had beneficial haemodynamic and anti-ischaemic effects. Phase III studies in patients with ischaemic heart disease indicated that tedisamil is an effective agent for the treatment of angina, resulting in a dose-dependent increase in anginal threshold (with a decrease in anginal attacks, increased exercise capacity during treadmill exercise and decreased electrocardiographic signs of exercise induced ischaemia) in comparison to placebo. Although tedisamil has been shown to be an effective anti-ischaemic agent, with Phase III trials for angina pectoris now completed, the company are now pursuing the use of tedisamil for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, for which tedisamil is still in Phase II/III clinical trials. Launch data are not yet known.