Boehringer Ingelheim’s Metalyse shows benefits as part of STEMI treatment

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced positive data from a new study of a promising new treatment approach for ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI).

The trial assessed a new pharmacoinvasive strategy including Boehringer Ingelheim's fibrin clot-dissolving drug Metalyse among STEMI patients who could not undergo primary percutaneous interventions within one hour of first medical contact.

It was shown that early fibrinolysis with Metalyse followed by timely angiography provided comparable levels of efficacy to primary PCI.

This shows prehospital initial fibrinolysis could help to broaden the therapeutic time window for angiography among patients who cannot reach a cath lab within 60 minutes.

Professor Anthony Gershlick of the University of Leicester said: "These results provide a potential therapeutic option for emergency physicians and cardiologists in those patients who cannot receive primary PCI within the guideline mandated times."

Earlier this month, Boehringer Ingelheim reported interim study data for faldaprevir, a potentially beneficial new therapy for hepatitis C patients who are also infected with HIV.