Schering-Plough announces positive Integrilin trial data

Schering-Plough has announced the results of the Clear Platelets 2 study showing the addition of Integrilin (eptifibatide) to bivalirudin resulting in a significant inhibition of platelet aggregation in patients, compared to administration of bivalirudin alone.

All patients post-stenting in the study were administered with standard antiplatelet treatment of 75 mg clipidogrel and 325 mg of aspirin every day.

This data was presented to the scientific sessions of the American Heart Association in Florida, with the study results found to be statistically significant for all measurements of the aggregation of platelets stimulated by multiple agonists.

Integrilin is a compound indicated for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome, including those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and those whose condition is to be managed medically.

Paul Gurbel, associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, said: “The results reflect the importance of a GP IIb-IIIa inhibitor in reducing platelet aggregation.”

He added that this study backs the inhibition of platelet aggregation in patients being treated with elective coronary stenting.

In April 2007, Schering-Plough reported that the progress of its innovative selective antiplatelet thrombin receptor agonist SCH 530348 to phase III marked a major landmark for the drug.