New thrombolytics improve ease of treatment in heart attack patients

Large-scale trials of two new thrombolytic agents, presented at theAmerican College of Cardiology in New Orleans, USA, on March 9, have demonstrated that effective thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction patients can be achieved with a simple, single-bolus administration regimen. Aside from being more convenient to administer, the new drugs offer up the hope that AMI patients can be treated more quickly, perhaps even before they are admitted to hospital, and so have a greater chance of surviving their heart attack.

Genentech's tenecteplase

The first trial, ASSENT 2 (ASsessment of the Safety and Efficacy of a New Thrombolytic agent) compared a 30-50mg single bolus of Genentech's new-generation tissue plasminogen activator drug tenecteplase (TNK-tPA) to the accelerated infusion of its current, market-leading Activase (alteplase) in AMI patients.