Atrial fibrillation, the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, is a condition in which the electrical signal to part of the heart becomes irregular, resulting in rapid, uncoordinated cardiac contraction. The condition is associated with an increased risk of embolism, stroke, heart failure and early death. In the United States alone, over 2.5 million people are affected by this condition, costing over $1B annually. Icagen has identified a novel ion channel mechanism, found in the atria, but not in the ventricle of the heart, and compounds capable of modulating the target. By modulating only an atrial ion channel, Icagen hopes to avoid the ventricular side effects associated with current drugs that may lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. Clinical trials are in process with Bristol-Myers Squibb.
