ARTERIA project - Pharmascience has Montreal at heart: partnership between the city's largest pharmaceutical company and the Montreal Heart Institute

MONTREAL, Feb. 14, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - In support of Montreal's excellence, Pharmascience is teaming up with the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI), the Government of Quebec and other partners as part of the ARTERIA project, to be announced today in the presence of Quebec Premier Pauline Marois. By joining forces we can, together, help fight cardiovascular disease, which is the main cause of death and hospitalization throughout the world, and affects 1.3 million Canadians.

Pharmascience Chief Executive Officer David Goodman stated: "We are proud to partner with the Montreal Heart Institute, a flagship of excellence, and to endorse ARTERIA in a project distinguished by its scientific and human goals. For Pharmascience, this is also an opportunity to once again demonstrate how we tangibly contribute to research, through our innovative use of generic drugs and by developing new products."

"We are confident that ARTERIA will ultimately make it possible to minimize cardiac complications, including CVAs," said Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, Director of the MHI Research Centre. "This unique project will also benefit patients tremendously by transforming the medical practices used in treating cardiovascular disease. In addition, these evolved practices will inevitably save money for the health system. This is why we are delighted to be able to count on support from partners such as Pharmascience," concluded Dr. Tardif.

Thanks to the ARTERIA partnership, the Montreal Heart Institute will be able to offer its patients diagnoses and clinical treatment using a "personalized medicine" approach. Based on the patient's genetic profile, this approach will allow for a customized protocol and improved follow-up, all at a lower cost. As well, the research program will optimize knowledge transfer among professionals, scientists and researchers, within the Institute and with its partners.

In addition to supplying the drugs and placebos, Pharmascience will share its expertise with the MHI, as several of its scientists will be working with the various committees in a collective effort to find new paths to discovery and innovation.

About Pharmascience Inc.

Founded in 1983, Pharmascience is the only Quebec-owned multinational pharmaceutical company and the largest in the industry in Quebec, with over 1,400 employees. For more information, visit www.pharmascience.com.

SOURCE: Pharmascience Inc.

Dr. Didier Reymond
Senior Director, Medical Affairs
Pharmascience Inc.
Tel.: [phone]
Email: [email protected]