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November 11, 1994
Media Contact:Gary Stephenson
Phone: (410) 955-5384
E-mail:
Gstephen@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu
Researchers at Johns Hopkins report that an experimental drug greatly reduces
the formation of deadly blood clots in women at risk for heart attacks and
strokes.
"We believe the drug Integrelin increases the efficiency of traditional
medicines in patients with unstable angina," said Pascal Goldschmidt-Clermont,
M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Thrombosis Center." When we gave it in
addition to standard therapies, clot formation dropped by 75 percent." The
study results are scheduled to be presented at the American Heart Association's
67th Scientific Session on November 17.
According to Goldschmidt-Clermont, Integrelin mimics the action of a small
segment of fibrinogen, the molecule that clumps blood platelets. Integrelin
wiggles its way onto the platelet's surface, taking up residence and blocking
fibrinogen access. Without a fibrinogen bond, platelets can't cluster or
produce clots that cause heart attacks and strokes.
"Control of unstable angina in women may become easier with new compounds like
Integrelin," says Goldschmidt-Clermont. "The next step is to study long-term
safety under all conditions." Integrelin is currently available only through
study protocols.
In the study, both men and women with unstable angina were randomized into two
groups. Each group received standard treatment that included heparin, a blood
thinner. One group also got Integrelin injections while the other group
received aspirin. Blood samples were taken and patients were monitored
repeatedly over 24 hours.
Researchers found that platelet clumping was six times less likely to occur in
women on Integrelin. Men, too, experienced a reduction in platelet clumping,
although the effect of the drug compared with aspirin was less
pronounced.
"We don't understand why it had a different biologic response in women," says
Goldschmidt- Clermont. "Only further research in a large patient population
will help us explain the gender bias."
In addition, the signs of unstable angina were less pronounced in women on
Integrelin. They experienced ischemic (lack of blood flow to the heart muscle)
five times less often and their episodes lasted one-fifth of the time compared
with women on traditional drug therapy alone (heparin plus aspirin).
Unstable angina is marked by sudden chest pain or tightening that can occur
even without exertion or exercise--and often mark the onset of a heart attack.
The pain occurs when platelets group together, block arteries and decrease
blood flow to the heart, says Goldschmidt-Clermont.
The study was funded by Cor Therapeutics. Other researchers include Steven P.
Schulman, M.D., director of the clinical trial; Paul F. Bray, M.D.; Nisha
Chandra, M.D.; Pariah Khan, Dmitriy Grigoryev, Patricia Gottdiener, Michael M.
Kitt, M.D., Cor Therapeutics and Gary Gerstenblith, M.D.