AstraZeneca's blood thinner Brilinta/Brilique demonstrates cost effectiveness; new Nexium indication filed in Japan

Data from eight countries shows that using Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) Brilique/Brilinta (ticagrelor) plus aspirin to treat acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients for one year is associated with cost-savings, gain in quality-adjusted life years, and life-years gained compared to treatment with both generic and branded clopidogrel plus aspirin.

These results, from health economics sub-studies from the PLATO trial, will be presented at the upcoming International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) European Union meeting, November 5-8 in Madrid, Spain. They are driven by a reduced rate of mortality. In the European Union, Brilique is indicated for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in adult patients with ACS. The drug was also approved by the US Food and Drug Administration this summer (The Pharma Letter July 21).

As cost effective as Plavix