Acesion Pharma ApS has announced promising data from preclinical studies with AP-31969, its second-generation oral SK channel inhibitor developed for chronic oral maintenance treatment to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. Acesion aims to develop a novel drug for AF that solves the risk of proarrhythmia associated with existing drugs.

Acesion Pharma ApS reported that its lead drug candidate AP-30663 hit the primary endpoint of a phase II trial in atrial fibrillation (AF). The study had an adaptive design, which allowed for the recruitment of up to 108 patients experiencing an active AF episode, but the study investigators saw sufficient efficacy after a blinded evaluation of just 63 patients to terminate at that point. The study, which began shortly before the COVD-19 pandemic, had been underway for three years at that stage.