Inaccurate Ticagrelor Studies Raise Red Flags
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June 23, 2025 -
KBA Attorneys -
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Inaccurate Ticagrelor Studies Raise Red Flags
A recent investigation by The BMJ has once again brought to light disturbing issues with the clinical research behind ticagrelor, a multibillion-dollar heart medication marketed as Brilinta in the U.S. and Brilique in Europe. These findings—spanning missing data, misreported results, and questionable authorship—should concern anyone taking this medication or involved in pharmaceutical safety oversight.
At KBD Attorneys, we are deeply committed to protecting patients from the dangers of defective drugs and medical misconduct. This alarming report is not just a matter of scientific debate—it’s about people’s lives, and whether they were put at unnecessary risk. If you or a loved one has taken ticagrelor and experienced complications, we urge you to contact us to explore your legal options.
The Background: Ticagrelor’s Rise to Blockbuster Status
Ticagrelor is prescribed to patients with acute coronary syndrome—a set of heart conditions involving sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart. Approved over a decade ago by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it was lauded as a superior alternative to older, cheaper medications like clopidogrel (Plavix). It quickly became a cornerstone in cardiac care and generated billions in revenue for AstraZeneca.
But now, that legacy is unraveling.
In December 2024, The BMJ revealed that the pivotal PLATO trial—the clinical study that helped get ticagrelor approved globally—had serious data integrity issues. Now, in June 2025, The BMJ has released new findings suggesting that additional platelet function studies used to justify ticagrelor’s efficacy were also misrepresented.
What the Investigation Found
The BMJ’s latest analysis found:
Misreported Primary Endpoints: The most critical results from two key studies were inaccurately reported in the medical journal Circulation.
Missing Data: Over 60 of 282 platelet readings are absent from the FDA’s datasets—an enormous red flag for scientific accuracy.
Suspicious Authorship: One investigator who contributed to the trials never became a listed author. Conversely, at least one listed author admitted they had no involvement in the trial at all.
No Accountability: Neither Circulation nor AstraZeneca responded to The BMJ’s request for comment.
These revelations underscore what critics like Victor Serebruany, a faculty member at Johns Hopkins University and vocal opponent of ticagrelor, have long suspected: the data supporting ticagrelor’s safety and efficacy may be deeply flawed.
“There are episodes of skyrocketing rebound and profound platelet inhibition after ticagrelor,” Serebruany noted. “If doctors had known what happened in these trials, they would never have started using ticagrelor.”
Why This Matters for Patients
When you take a medication prescribed by your doctor, you trust that it’s been tested rigorously and approved based on honest, accurate data. When that trust is broken, the consequences can be devastating:
Unnecessary risks of bleeding or blood clots
Incorrect treatment plans based on false assumptions of drug superiority
Potential wrongful deaths that could have been avoided
Ticagrelor isn’t a niche drug. It’s been widely prescribed in the U.S. and globally. With generics now entering the market, even more patients may be exposed without full transparency about the drug’s trial history.
How KBD Attorneys Is Taking Action
At KBD Attorneys, we have extensive experience in product liability and dangerous drug litigation. Our team of attorneys closely monitors medical device and pharmaceutical recalls, FDA investigations, and whistleblower reports to help ensure that consumers are protected from harm.
If you or a family member:
Suffered unexpected side effects while taking ticagrelor
Experienced complications such as bleeding or stroke
Were never informed of alternative medications
Lost a loved one due to possible drug-related injury
…we encourage you to reach out. You may have grounds for a defective drug lawsuit or a wrongful death claim.
We work with medical experts to investigate these cases thoroughly, and we fight hard for accountability and fair compensation. Holding pharmaceutical companies responsible isn’t just about money—it’s about making sure others aren’t harmed in the future.
The Bigger Picture: A System in Need of Reform
What’s especially troubling about the ticagrelor revelations is not just the errors, but the lack of accountability. Many questions still remain:
Why was the FDA able to overlook red flags even after internal reviewers raised concerns?
Why is there no formal mechanism to revisit old approvals when major flaws are discovered?
Why weren’t patients and doctors informed sooner?
These are systemic failures that put public health at risk. At KBD Attorneys, we advocate for more stringent FDA oversight, mandatory transparency in clinical trials, and better protections for whistleblowers who expose fraud or manipulation in the pharmaceutical industry.
If this story feels familiar, that’s because flawed drug trials and corporate negligence are unfortunately not rare.
We publish updates on FDA recalls, mass tort litigation, and other critical issues affecting patient safety.
Final Thoughts: Know Your Rights. Protect Your Family.
If you’ve trusted a medication like ticagrelor to manage a serious condition, you deserve peace of mind. When that trust is violated—whether through scientific misconduct, corporate greed, or regulatory failure—you don’t have to face the aftermath alone.
KBD Attorneys is here to investigate the facts, hold bad actors accountable, and give victims and their families a voice. We offer free consultations, and we don’t get paid unless you win.
Contact Us Today
If you suspect that ticagrelor, or any other prescription drug, caused harm to you or a loved one, don’t wait. Let a trusted legal team review your case.
Visit kbdattorneys.com to schedule your free consultation.
