Eli Lilly and Company launched cardiovascular product, Effient (Prasugrel) in India. Effient is an oral antiplatelet (OAP) agent that has been approved for patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) who have undergone angioplasty procedures. Antiplatelet medicines help keep platelets from sticking together that can cause blockage in an artery, thereby reducing the risk of future heart attacks and recurrent hospitalization.

India has the highest burden of heart disease in the world. According to the Lancet, by 2010, 60 per cent of the world’s heart disease is expected to occur in India. Effient, which was co-developed with Daiichi Sankyo Limited has been launched in around 70 countries till date. The treatment is already recommended under the ACC (American College of Cardiology), AHA (American Heart Association) and more recently in the ESC (European Society of Cardiology) and the NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines.

“We are very pleased to be able to bring this new treatment option for the millions of acute coronary syndrome patients in India. Effient will help mitigate the huge economic burden by cutting down the recurrent hospitalization episodes,” said Sandeep Gupta, CMD Eli Lilly India speaking on the occasion.