AstraZeneca reports positive data from Brilinta outcomes trial

AstraZeneca has announced that its heart drug Brilinta has met its primary endpoint goal in a large-scale outcomes trial.

Data from the Pegasus-TIMI 54 study, which involved 21,000 patients, showed that the tablet-based therapy delivered a statistically significant reduction in major cardiovascular thrombotic events in patients with a history of heart attack.

Both the 60 mg and 90 mg twice-daily dosage options, when combined with low-dose aspirin, were shown to be effective in secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients who had experienced a heart attack one to three years prior to the start of the study.

Complete results from the trial will be submitted to a scientific meeting in 2015 and, pending further analysis, may be filed with regulatory health authorities in order to seek approval of Brilinta in this indication.

Elisabeth Bjork, vice-president and head of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases at AstraZeneca's global medicines development, said: "The results build on existing understanding of the benefits of Brilinta for patients with acute coronary syndrome and offer important clinical insights into its potential role for the longer-term prevention of cardiovascular events."

Brilinta has been identified as one of five core growth platforms for AstraZeneca in the near to medium-term future, alongside diabetes, respiratory diseases, emerging markets and Japan.