Use of ticagrelor (Brilinta; AstraZeneca), an antiplatelet agent commonly associated with dyspnea, in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) did not adversely affect either cardiac or pulmonary function, according to a study published July 13 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

In high-risk primary prevention situations, statin therapy may have no direct benefit on all-cause mortality, according to results of a meta-analysis published in the June 28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Physio-Control, a subsidiary of Medtronic, has issued a class 1 recall of Lifepak 20 and Lifepak 20e external defibrillator and monitors due to power supply failure.

Rosiglitazone (Avandia) poses no significant increased risk of death, stroke or heart attack, though it does increase the risk of fractures, according to a new analysis of 2,368 patients with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according to findings presented this week at the American Diabetes Association's 70th scientific sessions in Orlando, Fla., and are part of the BARI 2D trial.

Eleven years after the introduction of the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia), data from available clinical trials demonstrate an increased risk for MI associated with its use and suggest an unfavorable benefit-to-risk ratio, according to a meta-analysis in the June 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, in advance of the July FDA meeting that will review the safety of rosiglitazone.

Judge Joseph Farnan, Jr., of the U.S. District Court, District of Delaware has found that the substance patent protecting AstraZenecas Crestor (the 314 patent) is valid and enforceable.

Having diabetes approximately doubles the risk of developing a range of blood vessel disease states, including heart attacks and strokes, according to a study published June 24 in Lancet, and presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) conference in Orlando, Fla. Diabetes is estimated to be responsible for one in every 10 deaths from cardiovascular disease, or about 325,000 cardiovascular deaths annually in all industrialized countries combined.

Metabolex and Sanofi-Aventis have entered into a global license and development agreement for the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of small molecules that modulate the G-protein coupled receptor 119, a receptor in the gut and pancreas that interacts with bioactive lipids to stimulate glucose-dependent incretin and insulin secretion.