NICE Recommends AstraZeneca’s Brilique in final guidance for long term Use
In final guidance, NICE backs usage of AstraZeneca’s drug as long-term treatment for patients who have suffered a heart attack and are at high risk of a further cardiovascular event.
The UK agency’s final guidance recommends the anti-clotting therapy for NHS use at a lower dosage than was previously available, backing AZ’s treatment as a more enduring option for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in adults who have had myocardial infarction.
Brilique is currently delivered to patients in a 90mg dose with aspirin for 12 months after a heart attack, the oral drug could now be taken twice daily with aspirin at a 60mg dose for a maximum period of three years.
Lisa Anson, AstraZeneca’s UK and Ireland president, said: “We welcome this very important and positive recommendation from NICE.
“With more people than ever surviving heart attacks, it is critical to recognise the need to provide ongoing management of the underlying condition in the immediate years following an attack for the prevention of further events.”
The new Final Appraisal Determination was produced as a result of the PEGASUS study, which proved Brilique with aspirin was significantly more effective at reducing the risk of repeat heart attack or stroke when compared to a lower-dosage, longer-term treatment.
Approximately seven out of ten people who have a heart attack survive, but approximately a fifth experience another cardiac event within one year while 20% of those who are event-free after 12 months have a heart attack or stroke within subsequent years.
Patients at high risk of repeat cardiovascular events are often older, with evidence of multi-vessel coronary artery disease, chronic non-end-stage renal dysfunction or diabetes mellitus.
Anson added: “At AstraZeneca we are committed to helping appropriate NHS patients who could benefit from ticagrelor 60mg get access to the treatment.”