Trial shows GSK's Arixtra has advantage for acute coronary syndrome patients
The largest clinical trial ever conducted in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), designed to compare GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) anti-thrombotic Arixtra with the commonly used Lovenox/Clexane (enoxaparin), showed Arixtra has some advantages.
The largest clinical trial ever conducted in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), designed to compare GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) anti-thrombotic Arixtra with the commonly used Lovenox/Clexane (enoxaparin), showed Arixtra has some advantages.
The Organization to Assess Strategies for Ischaemic Syndromes (OASIS 5) trial evaluated more than 20,000 patients with ACS and the results were presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) meeting in Stockholm, Sweden this month.
'The OASIS 5 findings demonstrate that Arixtra is likely an effective anti-thrombotic drug in many patients with ACS already receiving aspirin and clopidogrel,' said Dr Salim Yusuf, head of the study, and professor of medicine, McMaster University and Hamilton Heath Sciences, Ontario, Canada.
Previous studies have shown that newer anti-thrombotics can substantially reduce the risk of heart attacks in patients; however, this is often accompanied by an increased risk of major bleeding. The lower bleeding rates of Arixtra (fondaparinux sodium) coupled with its efficacy, make it an interesting prospect.
Not currently approved in the EU or US for treatment of ACS, Arixtra is approved for use in very specific instances for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events or acute deep vein thrombosis.