New technology detects risks of drugs to he...( A new technology to enable pharmaceutic...),Health

The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and iCardiac Technologies, Inc. have signed an exclusive agreement to commercialize software developed by biomedical engineer Jean-Philippe Couderc, Ph.D., that provides a more accurate and reliable method to analyze data from electrocardiograms (ECG) and other types of heart monitors to determine whether a drug is toxic to the heart.

The technology consists of software known as COMPAS which stands for Comprehensive Analysis of Repolarization Signal that allows researchers to target and evaluate specific data produced by ECGs called the QT interval, in addition to other advanced measurements intended to identify specific risks associated with a new drug. The QT interval measures the process of ventricular Repolarization, the period between the heart's contraction and recovery phase. While the period lasts only a fraction of a second, it represents an important determinant of a drug's safety.

"Drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval is a critical indicator of toxicity," said Couderc. "We know that individuals with an abnormally prolonged QT interval are at far greater risk for developing fatal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Consequently, effective and precise measurement of QT interval, which COMPAS provides, is an effective tool in the assessment of cardiovascular toxicity. Further, the COMPAS software will enable iCardiac Technologies to also focus on the development and deployment of additional ECG markers, which are even more specific and sensitive than traditional QT interval measurements for determining cardiac toxicity."

While there are several potential uses for this technology, the most immediate application is in clinical trials. Prolongation of
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Contact: Mark Michaud
mark_michaud@urmc.rochester.edu
585-273-4790
University of Rochester Medical Center
26-May-2006