Blockbuster Anticlotting Drug Approved on Flawed Studies
Oct 16, 2025•7 min
Listen to this episode in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episode description
- Ticagrelor, a blockbuster anticlotting drug, was approved despite FDA scientists warning it looked less safe and effective than older, cheaper alternatives like clopidogrel
- The landmark PLATO trial used to secure approval showed U.S. patients had worse outcomes on ticagrelor, yet those results were overridden by FDA leadership
- Investigations revealed serious problems with the trial, including altered death records, missing data, and inconsistent monitoring that favored ticagrelor
- Follow-up platelet studies were also misreported, with non-significant results published as significant and some listed authors denying participation
- Knowing these flaws allows you to ask about proven alternatives, reduce your personal heart risk through lifestyle, and avoid dependence on drugs pushed forward with weak, flawed evidence
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android