The rival between the genetically known drug clopidogrel (Plavix) and ticagrelor (Brilinta) raises as issues regarding long-term effect of Plavix tear down its reputation while Brilinta waits FDA consent to market.
Plavix, which is co-marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis, faces controversies when significant number of users carries genetic variations that may alter drug’s potency. Research showed that these people with variations are three times more likely to experience heart attack after 30 days of continued use.
Doctors, however, suggest a gene test for patients with hereditary variations to determine the treatment specially needed for them.
Plavix is an oral drug use to inhibit blood clots for patients with coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease. It is also an alternative drug for those who are resistant to aspirin.
FDA , last March labeled, the toughest safety advisory, black box warning for Plavix for doctors to augment dose or change treatment for patients who do not respond to treatment.
On the other hand, AstraZenica PLC’s Brilinta awaits FDA’s approved to be marketed shoves it way to hit the stack after passing tests by doctors and other drug companies.
The new drug, Brilinta shows superior recovery and treatment as compared to well-known Plavix.
At wager is a vast market, Plavix known to be the second biggest grosser on the drug industry next to cholesterol drug, Lipitor. Clopidogrel hits second with $8.6 billion in global sales the previous year.
Gene testing is suggested by doctors for those patients who did not respond to the treatment for them to be given the right cure.
However, two studies were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Stockholm, complicates the case for testing.
The first study called Plato is a head-to-head study between clopidogrel and ticagrelor using 10,285 patients. CYP2C19, a gene known to be Plavix resistant have no effects on ticagrelor that more likely reduce the risk of heart attack and other cardio vascular disease.
Lars Wallentin, a cardiologist at Uppsala University Hospital in Uppsala Sweden and the head of the study states that with Brilinta, no genetic testing is required it can be superior (with Plavix) regardless of gene test.
The second study presented two previous Plavix research that there is no association between the gene and the benefit of Plavix to the patients.
This study was presented online by the New England Journal of Medicine.
