CV Therapeutics' Anti-Ischemic Agent Ranexa(R) Significantly Reduces HbA1c and Other Markers of Diabetes in MERL...( - Data confirms safety and HbA1c red...),Health

- Data confirms safety and HbA1c reductions seen in ischemic patients with

diabetes in earlier clinical trials -

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CV Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CVTX) announced today that data from a prospectively identified analysis of 2,220 diabetic patients from the MERLIN TIMI-36 study showed that Ranexa(R) (ranolazine extended-release tablets) significantly reduced hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), increased the number of patients achieving the clinical HbA1c treatment target of 7.0 percent or less and reduced the incidence of newly increased HbA1c in patients without diabetes at baseline.

The findings were presented today at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida by Dr. David Morrow of the TIMI Study Group.

In patients with diabetes treated with Ranexa in the study, at four months HbA1c had declined approximately 0.7 percentage points, from a starting mean baseline of 7.5 to 6.8 percent, and 0.43 percentage points compared to placebo (p<0.001). Patients taking Ranexa were significantly more likely (p<0.001) to achieve the HbA1c treatment target of less than 7.0 percent, with 59 percent of diabetic patients on Ranexa achieving this target at four months.

Patients without diabetes at baseline who received Ranexa had a 32 percent reduction (p=0.003) in their risk of newly diagnosed hyperglycemia (as defined by having an HbA1c of greater than 6.0 percent or a new fasting glucose of more than 110mg/dL). Worsening hyperglycemia (defined as greater than a one percent increase in HbA1c) was 37 percent less likely (p<0.001) in the Ranexa treated group and no increased hypoglycemia or weight gain were observed in Ranexa patient
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