An experimental drug for anti-clotting from Merck & Co., vorapaxar, proved to be effective in preventing a heart attack in a major trial study. However, there was a risk of significant bleeding. Now Merck must decide whether or not to move ahead with the medication and seek Food and Drug Administration approval.
The findings of the study were released on Saturday and the data identified a specific group of patients who could be protected against additional heart attacks with just a modest risk of bleeding.
Some experts were skeptical about the prospects of the drug. They said that even in the most favorable group of patients the positive side was modest compared the bleeding risk involved. One expert even went as far as saying he would not include the drug in his own medical chest.
A few years ago, the drug was being hailed great. Animal studies had suggested the drug stopped clotting without a bleeding risk increase. However, expectation has been reduced significantly since it was disclosed in 2011 that a substantial bleeding risk was revealed, especially in patients that had a history of strokes.
Last year a study called Tracer was stopped when a risk of major bleeding was discovered, including bleeding inside of the skull.
