DALCOR PHARMA LICENSES A LATE-STAGE INVESTIGATIONAL CARDIOVASCULAR DRUG FOLLOWING MAJOR DISCOVERY BY MONTREAL HEART INSTITUTE (MHI) SCIENTISTS

Montreal (ots/PRNewswire) -

- New company DalCor to sponsor global phase III clinical trial to
be led by MHI

DalCor Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. (DalCor) and the Montreal Heart
Institute (MHI) announced today a collaboration in principle to
conduct an international Phase III clinical trial which could result
in a major clinical advance in cardiovascular personalised medicine.
This program is part of a major effort by DalCor and its backers, who
include significant private capital, to bolster the economy of Quebec
by investing in the region's health care capabilities.

The trial will seek to validate the clinical efficacy of
dalcetrapib, an investigational medicine that according to a recently
published analysis by the MHI could reduce cardiovascular morbidity
and mortality by as much as 39% in patients with a documented recent
Acute Coronary Syndrome and with the appropriate genetic profile.
This Phase III clinical study will screen more than 30,000 patients
across 30 countries in order to identify 5,000 patients having the
appropriate genetic profile that is expected to benefit from
dalcetrapib. DalCor estimates that $250 million will be required to
complete the project. MHI will be retained by DalCor as the lead
academic Clinical Research Organization for the Phase III trial. The
trial will be conducted in collaboration with the Montreal Health
Innovations Coordinating Centre (MHICC), a division of the MHI, and
other international Contract Research Organizations.

Cardiovascular disease, including coronary atherosclerosis, is the
leading cause of death in the world. Recent results published this
past January by MHI researchers led by Drs Jean-Claude Tardif and
Marie-Pierre Dubé in Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics indicated
that patients with certain genotypes exhibited a benefit in terms of
reduced cardiovascular risk when treated with dalcetrapib as compared
to placebo. "Our Dal-GenE study is prospectively testing dalcetrapib
in patients with a documented recent acute coronary syndrome and a
specific genetic profile", said Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, Director of
the Research Center at MHI, Professor of Medicine at the University
of Montreal and holder of the Canada Research Chair in personalized
medicine. Typically, precision therapy results in better patient
outcomes and potential reduction in costs. "As part of this project,
DalCor also funds MHI to further investigate this investigational
drug's activity and increase the potential of personalised medicine
options for our patients beyond the scope of this initial Phase III
trial", Dr Tardif added.

"This is a landmark study which can shift the paradigm of
personalized treatment for patients with cardiovascular disease based
on genomics and demonstrates the leadership of the Montreal Heart
Institute in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and its position
of excellence in advancing precision medicine," said Dr. Denis Roy,
Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Heart Institute.

DalCor, a company developed by Sanderling Ventures, LLC, has
licensed dalcetrapib from Roche. DalCor is a part of a Sanderling
program dedicated to help bolster the biomedical industry in Quebec.
This program has plans to form as many as eight companies in Quebec,
representing a potential investment of more than $500 million.
"DalCor is the fifth new company to be formed in Quebec by Sanderling
Ventures since September 2013 representing a major portion of our
investment strategy for Quebec," stated Dr. Robert McNeil, Managing
Director of Sanderling and DalCor's CEO. "MHI's recent new genetic
discovery significantly improves the probability of a successful
Phase III study. We are confident in the ability of MHI to lead this
important international clinical trial."

About DalCor Pharmaceuticals

DalCor is initially focused on cardiovascular drugs providing
precision medicine to patients through identification of patient
populations that derive clinical benefits. By integrating clinical
and genetic insights, DalCor and its partners intend to deliver
superior outcomes in clinical medicine while reducing cost for the
healthcare system.

About the Montreal Heart Institute

Founded in 1954 by Dr. Paul David, the Montreal Heart Institute
constantly aims for the highest standards of excellence in the
cardiovascular field through its leadership in clinical and basic
research, ultra-specialized care, professional training and
prevention. It is affiliated with the Université de Montréal.

About the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation

The mission of the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation is to raise
and administer funds to support the Institute's priority and
innovative projects and help its fight against cardiovascular
disease, the number-one cause of death worldwide. Since its creation
in 1977, the Foundation has donated almost $200 million to the
Montreal Heart Institute.

About Sanderling Ventures

Founded in 1979, Sanderling is among the oldest investment firms
dedicated to building new life science and biomedical companies.
Sanderling's unique approach combines a specialized investment focus
[http://www.sanderling.com/specialization.php ] with active
management [http://www.sanderling.com/active.php ] and long-term
commitment to building sustainable important companies. The firm
seeks to ensure the highest rates of return for its investors and the
creation of sustainable new companies for the communities in which it
invests. Since its inception, Sanderling has supported over 90
biomedical companies from very early stage start-ups, through
commercial development, earning consistently high rates of return on
its venture investments.

Sanderling has built significant new companies from early stage
technologies and has consistently brought these products to market,
and achieved successful outcomes for both its portfolio companies and
investors.

The office of Sanderling Ventures Canada, located on Sherbrooke
Street in Montreal, is managed by its Venture Partners Louise Proulx,
Ph.D., Michael Dixon, CPA, CA and Gordon Shore, Ph.D. Sanderling is
proud to have the support of its important Canadian Limited Partners,
including BDC Capital, a subsidiary of the Business Development Bank
of Canada, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ and Knight Therapeutics Inc.

Information:

Montreal Heart Institute
Lise Plante MBA
Communications and Marketing Director
Montreal Heart Institute Foundation
Phone: +1-514-376-3330, extension 3898
lise.plante@icm-mhi.org
facebook.com/institutcardiologiemontreal | @ICMtl

DalCor Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Louise Proulx, Ph.D
Chief Development Officer
Phone: +1-514-564-6474, extension 221
lproulx@dalcorpharma.com
http://www.dalcorpharma.com

Sanderling Ventures
Charlotte Shropshire
Director of Institutional Investment
Phone: +1-650-401-2006
cshropshire@sanderling.com
http://www.sanderling.com

ots Originaltext: Montreal Heart Institute
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