Accumetrics VerifyNow test shows patients with high PRU exhibit higher stent thrombosis

Accumetrics, Inc., developer of the VerifyNow^® System, the first rapid and easy-to-use point-of-care system for measuring platelet reactivity to multiple antiplatelet agents, today announced that patients with high platelet reactivity, i.e. high PRU values as measured by the Accumetrics VerifyNow P2Y12 Test, exhibited an approximately four times higher rate of stent thrombosis than patients without high platelet reactivity, as seen in the ADAPT-DES registry. The 30-day results from the 8,500+ patient registry were presented today at the 2011 TCT conference in San Francisco. The VerifyNow P2Y12 Test is used to measure the level of P2Y12 receptor blockade and the antiplatelet effect of medications such as clopidogrel and prasugrel (Plavix^® and Effient^®).

"Stent thrombosis is a rare but catastrophic event that patients are at risk for following a stent procedure," said Dr. Paul Teirstein, Chief of Cardiology, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA. "This latest data set tells us that many of these events are attributable directly to platelet reactivity," he added. "Platelet reactivity testing provides additional information to allow us as physicians to understand the treatment effect in our effort to reduce the risk of stent thrombosis in these patients."

The findings from ADAPT-DES are consistent with other recent publications, including the GRAVITAS pharmacodynamic analysis and a 3,000+ patient meta-analysis of platelet reactivity testing, that have demonstrated a significant association between platelet reactivity and recurrent cardiovascular events . Also just published is the 2011 ACCF/AHA/SCAI PCI guideline update, which provides guidance on which patients to test, and treatment options for patients with high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity.

"2011 has marked a tremendous surge in the validation of the clinical role of platelet reactivity testing," said President and CEO of Accumetrics, Timothy I. Still. "With the inclusion of platelet function testing in four separate clinical guidelines this year, and as we enter the era of generic Plavix in the US, there is an even greater need for more information to help physicians determine the most cost-effective treatment strategies while providing the highest quality patient care."