AstraZeneca announces SOCRATES trial results

AstraZeneca today announced the results from the SOCRATES trial that examined the effectiveness of Brilinta/Brilique (ticagrelor) 90 mg tablets meant to be taken twice a day compared to 100 mg of aspirin once per day in patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

The trial failed to meet its primary goal that studied the effectiveness of Brilinta/Brilique from the time administered to the first occurrence of any event, such as stroke, whether it be ischemic or hemorrhagic, myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack, and death. There were fewer events in patients taking Brilinta/Brilique compared to the aspirin, but the statistical trends were not significant. Based on the preliminary data from the trial, the safety of Brilinta/Brilique is consistent with its safety profile.

AstraZeneca has plans to present the data from the trial at an upcoming stroke congress. The information will also be put up for interpretation by regulatory agencies.

The SOCRATES trial studied the safety and effectiveness of a 90-day treatment regimen that put Brilinta/Brilique up against aspirin to prevent major vascular events in patients under the age of 40 that had an acute ischemic stroke.