FORM 6-K
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
Report of Foreign Issuer
 
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the month of January 2020
 
Commission File Number: 001-11960
 
AstraZeneca PLC
 
1 Francis Crick Avenue
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge CB2 0AA
United Kingdom
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
Form 20-F X Form 40-F __
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ______
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
Yes __ No X
 
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-_____________
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AstraZeneca PLC
 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
 
1.
Brilinta met primary endpoint in Phase III THALES trial in stroke 
 
27 January 2020 07:00 GMT
 
Brilinta met primary endpoint in Phase III THALES trial in stroke
 
Brilinta reduced the risk of the composite of stroke and death
after an acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack
 
High-level results from the Phase III THALES trial showed AstraZeneca's Brilinta (ticagrelor) 90mg used twice daily and taken with aspirin for 30 days, reached a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of the primary composite endpoint of stroke and death, compared to aspirin alone.
 
THALES was conducted in over 11,000 patients who had a minor acute ischaemic stroke or high-risk transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in the 24 hours prior to treatment initiation. The preliminary safety findings in the THALES trial were consistent with the known profile of Brilinta, with an increased bleeding rate in the treatment arm.
 
Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said: "Results of the Phase III THALES trial showed Brilinta, in combination with aspirin, improved outcomes in patients who had experienced a minor acute ischaemic stroke or high-risk transient ischaemic attack. We look forward to sharing the detailed results with health authorities."
 
Dr. Clay Johnston, lead investigator for the THALES trial and Dean of the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, US, said: "The risk of having a subsequent stroke is highest in the first few days and weeks after a minor acute ischaemic stroke or high-risk transient ischaemic attack. While an expected increase in bleeding was observed, the findings from THALES showed that Brilinta, in combination with aspirin, reduced the risk of potentially devastating events in this crucial time."
 
The full THALES trial results will be presented at a forthcoming medical meeting.
 
Brilinta is approved in more than 110 countries for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and in more than 70 countries for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular (CV) events among high-risk patients who have experienced a heart attack.
 
Stroke
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with 6.2 million stroke-related deaths in 2017, from which 2.7 million were due to ischaemic stroke.1 Patients who experience an acute ischaemic stroke or TIA are at high risk of developing subsequent ischaemic events, with particularly high risk within 30 days after the initial event and the highest risk period being the first 24 hours after the initial event.2
 
THALES
THALES is an AstraZeneca-sponsored, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, international, multicentre, event-driven trial involving more than 11,000 patients to test the hypothesis whether Brilinta and aspirin is superior to aspirin alone in preventing the composite of stroke and death in patients with minor acute ischaemic stroke or high-risk TIA. Patients were randomised within 24 hours of onset of acute ischaemic stroke or high-risk TIA symptoms and followed-up for 30 days of treatment. Trial treatments were Brilinta 180mg loading dose on day 1 as soon as possible after randomisation, followed by 90mg twice daily on days 2-30, or matching placebo. All patients received open-label aspirin 300-325mg on day 1, followed by 75-100mg once daily on days 2-30. The primary efficacy outcome was the time to the composite endpoint of stroke and death at 30 days. The primary safety outcome is time to first severe bleeding event according to the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) definition. Patients were followed for an additional 30 days on standard of care.
 
Brilinta
Brilinta is an oral, reversible, direct-acting P2Y12 receptor antagonist that works by inhibiting platelet activation. Brilinta, together with aspirin, has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of major adverse CV events (myocardial infarction, stroke or CV death), in patients with ACS or a history of myocardial infarction (MI).
 
Brilinta, co-administered with aspirin, is indicated for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in adult patients with ACS, or for patients with a history of MI and a high risk of developing an atherothrombotic event.
 
AstraZeneca in CVRM
Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) together forms one of AstraZeneca's three therapy areas and is a key growth driver for the Company. By following the science to understand more clearly the underlying links between the heart, kidneys and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing in a portfolio of medicines to protect organs and improve outcomes by slowing disease progression, reducing risks and tackling comorbidities. The Company's ambition is to modify or halt the natural course of CVRM diseases and potentially regenerate organs and restore function, by continuing to deliver transformative science that improves treatment practices and cardiovascular health for millions of patients worldwide.
 
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, and Respiratory. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.
 
Media Relations
 
 
Gonzalo Viña
 
+44 203 749 5916
Rob Skelding
Oncology
+44 203 749 5821
Rebecca Einhorn
Oncology
+1 301 518 4122
Matt Kent
BioPharmaceuticals
+44 203 749 5906
Angela Fiorin
BioPharmaceuticals
+44 1223 344 690
Jennifer Hursit
Other
+44 203 749 5762
Christina Malmberg Hägerstrand
Sweden
+46 8 552 53 106
Michele Meixell
US
+1 302 885 2677
 
 
 
Investor Relations
 
 
Thomas Kudsk Larsen
 
+44 203 749 5712
Henry Wheeler
Oncology
+44 203 749 5797
Christer Gruvris
BioPharmaceuticals
(Cardiovascular, Metabolism)
+44 203 749 5711
Nick Stone
BioPharmaceuticals (Renal) Environmental, Social and Governance
+44 203 749 5716
Josie Afolabi
BioPharmaceuticals (Respiratory)
+44 203 749 5631
Tom Waldron
Other medicines
+44 7385 033 717
Craig Marks
Finance
Fixed income
+44 7881 615 764
Jennifer Kretzmann
Corporate access
Retail investors
+44 203 749 5824
US toll-free
 
+1 866 381 72 77
 
References
1. Roth GA et al. Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific mortality for 282 causes of death in 195 countries and territories, 1980-2017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet 2018; 392(10159):1736-88.
2. Khanevski AN, et al. Thirty-day recurrence after ischemic stroke or TIA. Brain Behav 2018; 8(10):e01108.
 
Adrian Kemp
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
AstraZeneca PLC
 
 
Date: 27 January 2020
 
 
By: /s/ Adrian Kemp
 
Name: Adrian Kemp
 
Title: Company Secretary