Drug Bivalirudin Better Than Heparin After Heart Attack, Large Study Suggests

In the landmark global trial, bivalirudin was compared to heparin plus GPI in more than 3,600 patients with ST-segment (a specific electrocardiogram wave) elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most severe form of heart attack.

The HORIZONS-AMI trial is a prospective, single-blind, randomized, multicenter study conducted in 11 countries. A total of 3,602 patients undergoing angioplasty were randomly assigned to receive either bivalirudin with provisional use of GPI or heparin plus GPI. The two primary endpoints of the trial were major bleeding and net adverse clinical events, a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (death, reinfarction, stroke or ischemic target vessel revascularization) or major bleeding at 30 days. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events at 30 days. Those patients receiving bivalirudin within 30 days had significantly reduced net clinical adverse events by 24 percent, as well as reduced the risk of overall mortality by 33 percent and cardiac mortality by 38 percent, when compared to a regimen of heparin and GPI.

"The HORIZONS-AMI data show that using bivalirudin instead of heparin with a GPI during angioplasty increases survival in heart attack patients who are at high risk for death or disability," Dr. Stone said. "As the first multicenter randomized primary angioplasty trial since the introduction of balloon angioplasty to show improved survival, we expect HORIZONS-AMI to have an immediate impact on which drug therapy cardiologists choose for their patients with heart attack."

HORIZONS-AMI is the largest study ever to focus on the appropriate use of anticoagulant medications in patients experiencing STEMI and undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Only 7.2 percent of patients in the bivalirudin group received provisional GPI. The study also found that bivalirudin significantly reduced rates of major bleeding by 40 percent and demonstrated comparable rates of major cardiovascular adverse events. Bivalirudin has previously been shown to result in less bleeding and similar rates of composite ischemia compared to heparin plus GPI in patients undergoing angioplasty for stable angina, unstable angina and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Dr. Stone emphasized the importance of reducing the risk of bleeding. "In multiple previous trials, major bleeding has been shown to be a strong predictor of short and long-term mortality in patients undergoing angioplasty and in those with acute coronary syndromes," he said.

The findings from the trial are presented in the May 22, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

HORIZONS-AMI is sponsored and independently run by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation with funding by grants from The Medicines Company and Boston Scientific Corporation.

About ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)

STEMI is the most severe type of heart attack and carries a substantial risk of death and disability. STEMI involves myocardial injury, as indicated by a significant abnormality on the electrocardiogram (ECG) called ST-segment elevation. Guidelines recommend that STEMI patients be treated with rapid intervention such as primary angioplasty to help prevent further heart damage. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), an estimated 865,000 new and recurrent heart attacks occur every year, of which 400,000 are categorized as STEMI.

STEMI is part of a spectrum of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) caused by acute exacerbation of underlying coronary artery disease, and also includes non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA), chest pain due to inadequate circulation. Each year, about five million Americans seek emergency care for chest pain, of which an estimated 1.4 million are identified with ACS.