High-dose tirofiban as effective as abciximab in reducing ST-segment elevation in STEMI patients

Bleeding is the most common complication encountered during therapy with AGGRASTAT®. Administration of AGGRASTAT® is associated with an increase in bleeding events classified as both major and minor bleeding events, by criteria developed by the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Study group (TIMI). Most major bleeding associated with AGGRASTAT® occurs at the arterial access site for cardiac catheterization. Fatal bleedings have been reported. AGGRASTAT® should be used with caution in patients with platelet count <150,000/mm3, in patients with hemorrhagic retinopathy, and in chronic hemodialysis patients. Because AGGRASTAT® inhibits platelet aggregation; caution should be employed when it is used with other drugs that affect hemostasis. The safety of AGGRASTAT® when used in combination with thrombolytic agents has not been established. During therapy with AGGRASTAT®, patients should be monitored for potential bleeding. When bleeding cannot be controlled with pressure, infusion of AGGRASTAT® and heparin should be discontinued.

The following additional adverse reactions have been reported in post- marketing experience: bleeding, intracranial bleeding, retroperitoneal bleeding, hemopericardium, and pulmonary (alveolar) hemorrhage. Fatal bleedings have been reported; body as a whole: acute and/or severe decreases in platelet counts which may be associated with chills, low grade fever, or bleeding complications; hypersensitivity; rash and/or hives.

Please refer to the specific Prescribing Information for your country for complete warnings and precautions.

About Iroko

Iroko is a pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and maximizing the potential of currently marketed pharmaceutical products on a worldwide basis. Iroko applies concentrated selling and marketing efforts and product life cycle management strategies focused on developing new and relevant formulations and indications that benefit patient health. For more information, visit www.iroko.com.

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service.

For more information about AGGRASTAT®, visit www.iroko.com.