Lilly authorised to market ACS drug

Lilly has announced that the European Commission has granted it authorisation to market a drug to help prevent heart attacks.

The treatment Efient (prasugrel) is intended for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who are undergoing an artery-opening procedure.

It works by blocking a specific receptor on the platelet surface, preventing them from clumping together and clogging arteries, which in turn could prevent a heart attack.

Dr John C Lechleiter, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the firm, explained that survivors of this medical problem often have a substantial risk of having a repeat episode.

He commented about the announcement: “This action is a major step forward in giving healthcare professionals and patients in European countries a new antiplatelet option for treating ACS.”

On December 18th 2008, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency passed a positive opinion on the medication.

In other related news, Grammy-nominated singer Angie Stone is due to attend an event in Birmingham, sponsored by Lilly, to empower African-Americans with diabetes to take an active control of the illness.