The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Brilinta (ticagrelor) tablets at a new 60 mg dose to be used in patients with a history of heart attack beyond the first year. With this expanded indication, Brilinta is now approved to reduce the rate of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI, also known as heart attack) and stroke in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or a history of MI.

Brilinta is an oral antiplatelet treatment that works by inhibiting platelet activation and was first approved by the FDA in July 2011. The drug as been approved in over 100 countries and is included in 12 major ACS treatment guidelines globally. The new Brilinta 60-mg tablet is expected to be available in pharmacies by the end of September 2015.

Source: AstraZeneca