Merck & Co. has acquired exclusive rights to develop and commercialise Cardiome Pharma’s intravenous formulation of vernakalant in Canada, Mexico and the US from the drug’s original partner, Astellas US, in exchange for an undisclosed upfront fee and milestone payments associated with development, regulatory approval and the achievement of sales thresholds in the licensed territories. The deal will give Merck the global rights to both the oral and intravenous versions of the drug. The company currently markets intravenous vernakalant in the EU, Iceland and Norway under the brand name BrinavessTM for rapid conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm.