# AstraZeneca PLC Brilinta reduced the risk of cardiovascular events

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/astrazeneca-plc-brilinta-reduced-the-risk-of-cardiovascular-events/412791664
- Published: 2019-09-02T07:22:56+01:00
- Author: Giles Arbor

Brilinta reduced the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery
disease and type-2 diabetes in Phase III THEMIS trial.

Additionally, Brilinta showed a more favourable clinical benefit in a prespecified
sub-analysis of patients who had undergone a procedure to open a coronary artery

**[AstraZeneca plc](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/astrazeneca/azn.l)**(
[LON: AZN](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/astrazeneca/azn.l))
today announced detailed results from the positive Phase III THEMIS trial which 
showed Brilinta (ticagrelor) plus aspirin reduced the relative risk for the composite
of cardiovascular (CV) death, heart attack, or stroke by 10% compared with aspirin
alone, a statistically significant reduction.

The overall THEMIS trial population was patients with coronary artery disease (CAD)
and type-2 diabetes (T2D) with no prior heart attack or stroke.

Additionally, in a clinically meaningful and prespecified sub-analysis of patients
who had previously undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a procedure
to open a blocked or narrowed coronary artery, a 15% relative risk reduction was
observed for Brilinta plus aspirin for the composite of CV death, heart attack, 
or stroke, compared with aspirin alone.

The safety profile for Brilinta was consistent with the known profile of the medicine
with an increased risk of bleeding events observed in both THEMIS and the THEMIS-
PCI sub-analysis.

**Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said: **

> “These positive results show that Brilinta reduced the risk of cardiovascular 
> events in patients with coronary artery disease and type-2 diabetes, and we hope
> this will make a difference because their risk of heart attack or stroke is almost
> twice as high as it is among diabetes patients without cardiovascular disease.
> Also, for the first time, these new data identified an easily-recognisable sub-
> group of stable patients who may benefit most from Brilinta – those with type-
> 2 diabetes who have undergone PCI.”

**Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, THEMIS Co-Chair and Executive Director of Interventional
Cardiovascular Programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Professor of Medicine
at Harvard Medical School, Boston, US said: **

> “So far, treatment options have been limited for patients with coronary artery
> disease and type-2 diabetes. The results from THEMIS greatly advance our understanding
> of cardiovascular risk reduction and refine our understanding of the role of dual
> antiplatelet therapy in patients across the cardiovascular spectrum.”

**Gabriel Steg, MD, THEMIS Co-Chair and Professor at Université de Paris, said: **

> “Patients with type-2 diabetes who had undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention,
> face a similar risk of a cardiovascular event as those who have had a heart attack.
> The PCI population is a sizeable and easily identifiable group of patients where
> we saw a more favourable net clinical benefit, that we hope in the future will
> be considered for long-term therapy with Brilinta and aspirin.”

AstraZeneca will work with regulatory authorities to explore an update to the Brilinta
label based on these results.

Results from THEMIS and THEMIS-PCI were presented on Sunday 1 September 2019 at 
the ESC Congress 2019 (the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology)
in Paris, France. The results for the overall THEMIS trial were published simultaneously
in the New England Journal of Medicine1 and results from THEMIS-PCI were published
in The Lancet.2

**About THEMIS**

THEMIS (Effect of Ticagrelor on Health Outcomes in DiabEtes Mellitus Patients Intervention
Study) is an AstraZeneca-sponsored, multi-national, randomised, double‑blinded trial
in patients with CAD and T2D with no prior myocardial infarction or stroke. THEMIS
was designed to test the hypothesis that Brilinta plus aspirin would reduce major
adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of CV death, myocardial infarction
or stroke, compared with aspirin alone. CAD was defined as a percutaneous coronary
intervention (PCI), bypass surgery, or at least a 50% narrowing of a coronary artery.
More than 19,000 patients were randomised across 42 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa,
North and South America.

THEMIS-PCI is a clinically meaningful and prespecified sub-analysis of patients (
11,154 which is 58% of total patients) who had previously undergone percutaneous
coronary intervention (PCI).

**About Brilinta**

Brilinta is an oral, reversible, direct-acting P2Y12 receptor antagonist that works
by inhibiting platelet activation. Brilinta, together with aspirin, has been shown
to significantly reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (myocardial
infarction, stroke or CV death) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or
a history of MI.

Brilinta, co-administered with aspirin, is indicated for the prevention of atherothrombotic
events in adult patients with ACS, or for patients with a history of MI and a high
risk of developing an atherothrombotic event.

**About AstraZeneca in CVRM**

Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism (CVRM) together forms one of AstraZeneca’s three
therapy areas and is a key growth driver for the Company. By following the science
to understand more clearly the underlying links between the heart, kidneys and pancreas,
AstraZeneca is investing in a portfolio of medicines to protect organs and improve
outcomes by slowing disease progression, reducing risks and tackling comorbidities.
The Company’s ambition is to modify or halt the natural course of CVRM diseases 
and potentially regenerate organs and restore function, by continuing to deliver
transformative science that improves treatment practices and cardiovascular health
for millions of patients worldwide.

**About AstraZeneca**

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the
discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily
for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas – Oncology, CVRM and Respiratory.
AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used
by millions of patients worldwide.

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