New thrombosis drug is less effective and more expensive than the existing drug

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 16 Jul 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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A new drug used for the treatment of Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) is less effective and more expensive than the drug it is designed to replace, according to a Medical Research Council (MRC) funded study by Professor Tony Green of the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's hospital. The finding could save the government up to 22 million pounds every year on treatment of the disease.

The scientists conducted a randomised trial comparison of the new drug, called anagrelide, with the existing drug hydroxyurea. The trial had two strands, one where patients were given anagrelide with low dose aspirin and the other where patients were given hydroxyurea with low dose aspirin. The results showed that patients receiving hydroxyurea and aspirin not only developed less arterial thrombosis, serious bleeding and bone marrow scarring, but also experienced fewer side effects.

ET is a member of the myeloproliferative disorders. Patients suffering from the disease are at risk of thromboses (including strokes and heart attacks) and to a lesser extent, bleeding. In the longer term some patients may also develop leukaemia or scarring of the bone marrow. With the right treatment, however, many patients suffering from it can have a normal lifespan. There are about 6000 cases of the disease in the UK.

The findings of the 7-year MRC PT-1 (Primary Thrombocythemia), study are published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2005; 353: 33-45. The study is the largest randomised study of any myeloproliferative disorder ever performed. More than 800 ET patients who were at risk of thrombosis participated.

Professor Green added, "This study demonstrates the power of a unified national health service in supporting landmark clinical trials."

http://www.mrc.ac.uk