Plavix, a force to reckon with in the field of blood thinning drugs has a powerful contender in an experimental drug called Prasugrel, used for the prevention of blood clots. The report is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to AHA statistics, nearly 650,000 patients undergo angioplasty annually, and for whom blood-thinning drugs are employed to prevent the formation of blood clots.A study carried out amongst 13,600 patients with severe blockages in their coronary arteries, of whom 3500 had suffered heart attacks, usage of prasugrel brought a 19% decline in mortality due to heart attacks and strokes.
The drug was found to be beneficial for diabetics, reflecting in a 30% reduction in cardiovascular risks. It was observed that the drug prevented 23 heart attacks in every 1000 patients treated with only six instances of bleeding.
The downside to the drug, revealed by the study was a 32% increase in risk of bleeding. According to experts, the best route to take is to avoid the use of this drug on high risk patients.
The drug is slated to go in for governmental approval by this year end.
Source-Medindia
LIN/M
