AZ wows analysts with new Brilinta data

AstraZeneca rolled out a new set of promising data for Brilinta this morning, demonstrating that the drug works faster than Plavix while its effects fade more quickly--exactly what researchers were hoping to see. The new mid-stage data helps AZ build a case that Brilinta, if approved, can be superior to an industry standard that earns $9 billion a year.

The mid-stage data, unveiled at the AHA scientific meeting in Orlando, showed that patients taking Brilinta (ticagrelor) experienced greater levels of platelet aggregation inhibition at a series of time periods that range from 30 minutes to 24 hours. Analysts were particularly struck by the fact that 98 percent of patients taking Brilinta experienced significant inhibition of platelet aggregation--clumping--after two hours, a mark hit by only 31 percent of Plavix patients.

"In acute coronary syndromes, a rapid and sustained antiplatelet effect is desirable since patients are at highest risk for events soon after they present with symptoms," commented Dr. Paul Gurbel, director of the Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research. "Today's data add to the growing body of evidence to understand how ticagrelor works, and how it affects platelets in the body."

This data builds on the numbers collected from a large late-stage trial that demonstrated fewer cardiovascular events like heart attacks and no increased risk of major bleeding.

- check out AstraZeneca's release
- here's the Reuters article

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