Lilly and Daiichi Sankyo study reveals new prasugrel insights

Lilly and Daiichi Sankyo have provided funding for a new study assessing optimal dosages of the anti-platelet drug prasugrel among older heart patients.

According to the findings of the Trilogy ACS trial, certain heart patients over the age of 75 will experience similar benefits with a half-dose of prasugrel as with a typical dosage of clopidogrel, with no increased risk of bleeding problems.

This finding is important due to the difficulties associated with identifying the right dose of anti-clotting medications for the elderly, who are at a higher risk of suffering from intracranial and fatal bleeding following treatment.

Study co-author Magnus Ohman, professor of medicine at Duke University, said: "Future dedicated studies need to continue to find the right therapies for the vulnerable elderly patients."

Lilly and Daiichi Sankyo are responsible for marketing and manufacturing prasugrel and offered financial support for this trial, as well as consulting fees and travel expenses.

The drug is marketed under the name Efient in Europe and Effient in the US.