WHITEHOUSE STATION (dpa-AFX) - Drug maker Merck & Company Inc. (MRK), Tuesday said its investigational blood thinner Vorapaxar has met the primary endpoint of TRA-2P study by significantly reducing the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke compared to standard of care. However, the results were marred by a significant increase in bleeding among patients taking Vorapaxar.
The New Jersey-based company did not provide detailed information about the TRA-2P study, (Thrombin Receptor Antagonist in Secondary Prevention of atherothrombotic ischemic events). Merck said it will present the full results at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in March.
Merck's TRA-2P study revealed that when patients treated with Vorapaxar in combination with standard of care significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, stroke or urgent coronary revascularization compared to patients treated only on standard of care.
Even so, there was a significant increase in bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage, among patients taking Vorapaxar in addition to standard of care. The risk was lower in patients without a history of stroke, the company noted.
Peter Kim, president, Merck Research Laboratories, said 'We are pleased that TRA-2P met its primary endpoint, and we look forward to discussing the results with the scientific community.'
Vorapaxar, once viewed as a blockbuster drug, hit road blocks after bleeding risks emerged last year. Merck had to discontinue one arm of the Vorapaxar study, named Tracer, and implemented study changes in the TRA-2P trial.
Merck had acquired the blood clot preventer Vorapaxar through a $41 billion takeover of Schering-Plough Corp. in 2009.
MRK is currently trading on the NYSE at $38.67, up $0.27 or 0.70%, on a volume of 6.2 million shares.
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