PeriCor Pharmaceuticals

PeriCor Pharmaceuticals was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of treatments for cardiovascular conditions, specifically focusing on peri-procedural complications. The company's primary asset was acadesine, a small molecule adenosine-regulating agent intended to prevent tissue damage during heart surgery. Acadesine was evaluated in the large-scale Phase 3 RED-CABG clinical trial, which aimed to reduce the risk of death or non-fatal myocardial infarction in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In 2009, the trial was halted following an interim futility analysis, which showed the drug was unlikely to demonstrate a significant benefit. PeriCor was founded by former executives of Gensia, the original developer of acadesine, and operated through a strategic partnership with Schering-Plough. Since the failure of the RED-CABG trial, the company has been inactive.