Angiox® (Bivalirudin) Alone Reduced Early Bleeding In ACS Patients Undergoing Angioplasty

VIENNA, AUSTRIA, September 2, 2007-Patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or angioplasty, experienced nearly 50% less bleeding at 30 days and comparable mortality at one-year when treated with Angiox® (bivalirudin) alone compared to unfractionated heparin or enoxaparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI), according to data from the ACUITY trial. These findings were consistent in patients switched to Angiox monotherapy from unfractionated heparin or enoxaparin. These data were presented today at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2007. The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) recently re-acquired rights for Angiox in Europe and currently markets the product as Angiomax® in the United States.

“The ACUITY trial demonstrated that Angiox is the preferred antithrombotic strategy in moderate and high risk ACS patients undergoing PCI. The subgroup analysis presented today gives us compelling new information on the benefits of switching ACS patients to Angiox,” said lead author of the study, Harvey D. White, MD, director of coronary care and cardiovascular research at Green Lane Cardiovascular Service, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. “The reduction in early bleeding achieved with Angiox monotherapy is particularly important, as bleeding events are commonly linked to late mortality in these patients.”