Research & Development In Brief

PPIs do not counteract anti-clotting drugs: The use of proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec OTC (omeprazole) does not significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular events in patients who take anticlotting drugs like Plavix (clopidogrel) or Effient (prasugrel) according to a study in the Sept. 1 issue of The Lancet. The research, led by Michelle O'Donoghue, of Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, contradicts other recent studies that found PPIs may inhibit the enzyme that converts clopidogrel to the active drug form (1"The Tan Sheet" Feb. 2, 2009). However, the researchers acknowledged a "modest attenuation of the in-vitro antiplatelet effects" of clopidogrel and prasugrel during PPI use. The researchers based their conclusion on two double-blind studies with a total of 13,809 subjects receiving cardiovascular-related treatments