Authors' objectives: Ticagrelor is an oral, reversibly bound antagonist of the P2Y₁₂ adenosine diphosphate receptor, which inhibits platelet aggregation. Ticagrelor belongs to a class of drugs called cyclopentyltriazolopyrimidine inhibitors, which bind directly to the P2Y₁₂ receptor without conversion to an active metabolite. This allows a rapid onset of action. Ticagrelor is intended to prevent thrombotic events in patients with acute ischaemic stroke or high risk transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Ticagrelor is administered at a dose of 90mg twice daily, following a single 180mg loading dose. It is currently licensed in combination with aspirin for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Stroke affects between 174 and 216 people per 100,000 population in the UK each year and accounts for about 11% of all deaths in England and Wales. An estimated 85% of strokes are due to ischaemic stroke, 10% to primary haemorrhage and 5% to subarachnoid haemorrhage. The risk of recurrent stroke within 5 and 10 years of the initial event is 26% and 39%, respectively. TIA affects about 35 people per 100,000 population each year and is associated with a high risk of stroke in the first month after the event and up to one year afterwards. Current treatment for patients following ischaemic stroke or TIA includes medications such as anticoagulants, antiplatelets, statins and thrombolytic agents. Surgery is also an option for some patients. Ticagrelor is currently in a phase III clinical trial investigating its effects on reducing subsequent vascular events as compared to aspirin. Results from this trial are expected in 2016.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/topics/ticagrelor-brilique-for-preventing-thombotic-events-in-patients-with-acute-ischaemic-stroke-or-high-risk-transient-ischaemic-attack/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: NIHR Horizon Scanning Research&Intelligence Centre (NIHR HSRIC)