The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have released revised guidelines for managing patients with unstable angina (UA)/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). UA and NSTEMI are acute manifestations of coronary artery disease.
Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb have announced the approval of a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for a 300mg tablet of clopidogrel bisulfate (Generic Plavix) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients as soon as possible after hospital admission. Currently available as a 75-mg tablet taken once a day, generic clopidogrel helps to prevent platelets from sticking together and forming clots. It was initially approved in 1997.
Both the timing and dosage of clopidogrel (Plavix, Bristol-Myers Squibb/ Sanofi-Aventis) loading are important, according to a study of pretreatment in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The results suggest pretreating patients with highdose clopidogrel drug as early as possible.
