AstraZeneca’s Brilique receives class I recommendation from ESC

AstraZeneca has announced that its oral antiplatelet medicine Brilique has been granted a class I recommendation in new guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

The ticagrelor-based therapy has been endorsed with no restrictions for the management of clopidogrel-naive acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with persistent ST-segment elevation who have no prior history of stroke.

It means that Brilique – which is known as Brilinta in the US – is now recognised as a standard therapy for ACS patients within a total of ten sets of global guidelines.

This latest ruling was based on positive data from Plato, a clinical study that demonstrated the survival and quality of life benefits provided by the drug.

Dr James Ferguson, vice-president for global medical affairs at AstraZeneca's cardiovascular division, said: "These guideline updates underscore a growing acceptance amongst the medical community of the benefits of ticagrelor (plus low-dose aspirin) for a broad range of ACS patients."

Earlier this week, the company was granted European regulatory approval for Zinforo, a new therapy for skin infections and community-acquired pneumonia.