PA32540 for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in patients at risk for aspirin-associated gastric ulcers

Abstract

Prescribed in patients with a history of myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack, coronary intervention or bypass surgery, aspirin is one of the medications most commonly used in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. It has become a mainstay of therapy after years of solid evidence supporting its efficacy in clinical trials. However, a number of risks and side effects accompany its benefits, including the notable risk of bleeding and gastrointestinal side effects. Numerous mechanisms have been proposed to attenuate these effects to promote adherence and to expand the population for which aspirin is a reasonable treatment option. A polypill or combination formulation that includes a proton pump inhibitor, a drug commonly prescribed alongside aspirin, is one potential avenue of therapy. One such combination pill, PA32540, has undergone Phase I and Phase III trials and shows promising safety and efficacy results in these preliminary trials.