Pharmaprojects R&D Pipeline News Feed
UK launch for Prasugrel
9 Apr 2009
Lilly and Daiichi Sankyo's antiplatelet agent, prasugrel, has been launched in the UK for the treatment of atherothrombotic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention to reopen narrow or blocked arteries. It will be marketed in the UK as Efient. It is currently also awaiting approval in the US, where it has been recommended for approval.
The success of prasugrel is based on the results of a randomized, double-blind, head-to-head Phase III trial (TRITON-TIMI 38) in 13608 ACS patients. In this trial, prasugrel reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as chronic venous insufficiency, myocardial infarction or stroke, by 19% compared with clopidogrel. In subgroup analysis, patients with both diabetes and ACS had a 40% reduction in risk of cardiovascular events. However, the risk of life-threatening and fatal bleeding was increased on prasugrel.
With this launch, the UK becomes the first worldwide market for prasugrel, which will be co-promoted by both companies. It will also see it go head-to head with Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol Myers Squibb’s Plavix (clopidogrel), which is already launched in many major markets worldwide. Prasugrel is approved in the rest of the EU, with launch in Germany planned shortly and further European launches to follow.
