Vorapaxar (Merck) plus standard of care significantly reduces risk of Cardiovascular Events

Top-line results of the TRA-2P study of vorapaxar, from Merck, showed that the addition of vorapaxar to standard of care (e.g. aspirin, or thienopyridine or both) resulted in a significant reduction in the risk of the composite of cardiovascular (CV) death, heart attack, stroke or urgent coronary revascularization by 12 percent compared to placebo. This is the first time that an anti-thrombotic medicine added to the standard of care has been shown to provide an additional, significant reduction in cardiovascular events in the secondary prevention setting. There was also a significant increase in bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), among patients taking vorapaxar in addition to standard of care, although the risk of ICH was lower in patients without a history of stroke. David A. Morrow at the TIMI Study Group and Director, Levine Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital, presented the data at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions.