Study of Efient in ACS patients suggests new strategies needed
A study shows that pre-treatment with Efient/Effient (prasugrel hydrochloride), from Daiichi Sankyo and Eli Lilly, prior to catheterization, significantly increases the risk of life-threatening bleeding in Acute Coronary Syndrome patients, without reducing the risk of major ischemic events. The Phase III, randomized, double blind, event-driven ACCOAST study was conducted in Europe, Canada, Israel and Turkey and randomized 4033 patients to either pre-treatment with prasugrel or placebo.
For the primary endpoint, a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, urgent revascularization or GPIIb/IIIa bailout at 7 and 30 days post-randomization, there was no significant difference between pre-treatment and no pre-treatment (10.0% vs 9.8%). Results suggests that there is no longer a need for pre-treatment in ACS patients to prevent ischemic complications while waiting for catheterization. Data was presented at ESC 2013.