NCC5420

NovaCardia was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of cardiovascular therapies, specifically targeting heart failure and related conditions. The company's lead candidate, rolofylline (formerly NCC-5420), was a selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist designed to improve renal function in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. NovaCardia was acquired by Merck & Co. in 2007 for $350 million to bolster Merck's cardiovascular pipeline. Although rolofylline reached Phase 3 clinical trials, it ultimately failed to meet its primary endpoints in the PROTECT study, leading to the discontinuation of its development.