Drug may prevent one in five heart deaths

MANCHESTER, England, June 15 (UPI) -- One in five deaths a year could be avoided following a heart attack if the drug ticagrelor was used instead of clopidogrel, British researchers say.

Robert Storey of the University of Sheffield says the drug trial of more than 18,000 patients in more than 40 countries worldwide found ticagrelor was more effective for heart attack patients than clopidogrel in reducing death and recurrent heart attack.

Ticagrelor was made available in Britain last December, but has yet to be adopted across Britain due to cost concerns -- it costs about $90 a month, while clopidogrel has a much lower cost because it is available in generic forms.

However, the extra cost of ticagrelor is offset to some extent by its greater effectiveness, which reduces the need for heart operations, Storey says.

"Many people are dying avoidably in the year after having a heart attack due to delays introducing this new treatment," Storey says in a statement.

"We're pleased that the Scottish Medicine Consortium recently approved ticagrelor, on the basis that the initial expense of the drug is offset to a significant extent by the resultant savings, such as reduced need for procedures."

In England, a verdict on the drug is not expected until October, Storey says.

Storey presented the findings at the British Cardiovascular Society annual scientific conference in Manchester, England.