Kardia Therapeutics

Kardia Therapeutics was a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies for cardiovascular diseases, specifically hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and heart failure. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Leslie Leinwand and Dr. Michael Bristow of the University of Colorado Boulder, the company leveraged advanced research into the molecular mechanisms of cardiac muscle contraction. Its primary research efforts were directed toward identifying small molecule modulators of cardiac myosin to treat inherited heart conditions. In October 2008, Kardia was acquired by Forest Laboratories for an upfront payment of $25 million and potential milestone payments totaling $225 million. The acquisition integrated Kardia's early-stage cardiovascular programs into Forest's broader R&D pipeline.