Medicines Co blood thinner cuts death risk in European ambulance trial

Medicines Co’s blood thinner Angiomax, when administered en route to the hospital to patients suffering a serious heart attack, significantly reduced the risk of major bleeding and death compared with commonly used heparin, according to data from a large clinical trial. The rate was 5.1 percent in the Angiomax group versus 8.4 percent for those who got heparin, which researchers said was highly statistically significant. “The benefit was early and sustained at 30 days,” said Dr. Philippe Steg, lead investigator of the Euromax study, who presented the findings on Wednesday at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific meeting in San Francisco. A secondary goal, added second heart attacks to the composite of death and major bleeding.