PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals Inc. said its drug PB2452 was able to sustainably reverse antiplatelet activity in patients taking blood thinner ticagrelor, a recently completed midstage study showed.
Ticagrelor, marketed by AstraZeneca PLC as Brilinta or Brilique, is used with aspirin to help prevent another heart attack or stroke in people with heart problems. The medicine works by keeping platelets from sticking together and forming harmful clots in the arteries.
In the phase 2a clinical trial, PB2452 achieved immediate and sustained reversal of ticagrelor in patients aged 50 to 80 who are receiving dual antiplatelet therapy of ticagrelor and low-dose aspirin.
PB2452, which is intended to reverse the antiplatelet activity of ticagrelor in major bleeding and urgent surgery situations, was generally well received, with only minor adverse events reported, the Malvern, Pa.-based biopharmaceutical company said.
Previously, PhaseBio assessed PB2452 in healthy younger patients, with results showing the same immediate and sustained reversal of ticagrelor. The drug was also well received in this part of the study.
In April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted PB2452 breakthrough therapy designation for the aforementioned indication, allowing for the expedited development and review of the medicine.
