Ticagrelor in addition to acetylsalicylic acid for prevention of stroke in patients with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack


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Indications: Stroke
Therapeutic Areas: Cardiovascular System
Year: 2019

Ticagrelor in addition to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is in development for the prevention of new stroke in patients with acute ischaemic stroke or high-risk transient ischaemic attack. A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. There are three different types of stroke; ischaemic strokes, haemorrhagic strokes and transient ischaemic attacks. The aim of stroke therapy is to restore optimal blood flow to the brain, reduce any damage caused to the brain tissues, modulate any factors that may exacerbate this damage and if possible, repair the damage. Early treatment is critical to rescue potentially salvageable brain tissue.
Both ticagrelor and ASA work in different but complementary ways to inhibit platelet activation. This dual antiplatelet action may be more effective in prevention of new stroke in patients with acute ischaemic stroke or high-risk transient ischaemic attack (TIA) compared with aspirin alone. If licensed, ticagrelor co-administered with ASA may offer an additional treatment option for preventing stroke or death in patients with non-severe, non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke or high-risk transient ischaemic attack.