AstraZeneca has announced the UK availability of ticagrelor (Brilique) 90mg orodispersible tablets. This follows the European Commission’s marketing authorisation of the formulation in May 2017. A press release reports that ticagrelor is the first and only P2Y12 receptor antagonist to be made available in this form in the UK and Europe.
The press release notes that the new formulation is designed for patients requiring antiplatelet therapy, who are either intubated and have a nasogastric tube inserted or have difficulty swallowing film coated tablets.
Ticagrelor 90mg orodispersible is administered by placing the tablet on the tongue where it is rapidly dispersed in saliva. It can then be swallowed with or without water. The tablet can also be dispersed in water and administered via a nasogastric tube (CH8 or greater). Patients will be able to use ticagrelor 90mg orodispersible as an alternative to ticagrelor 90mg film-coated tablets if they are intubated and have a nasogastric tube inserted, or have difficulty swallowing film-coated tablets.
Jonathan Byrne (Kings College Hospital, London, UK), says: “Having a dispersible formulation means we can help address the needs of patients who have difficulty swallowing. The availability of this new ticagrelor formulation is welcome news and will provide healthcare professionals with greater flexibility in delivering the appropriate treatment for patients.”
Ticagrelor 90mg (film-coated tablets), in combination with low dose aspirin, is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium as a treatment option for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in adults with acute coronary syndromes for up to 12 months.
In Europe, ticagrelor is licensed, when co-administered with aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in adult patients with acute coronary syndromes or; a history of myocardial infarction and a high risk of developing atherothrombotic event.
