Genentech Activase

Results of ASSET (Anglo-Scandinavian Study of Early Thrombolysis) mortality study published in the Sept. 3 issue of The Lancet show overall one month fatality rates with TPA at 7.2% versus 9.8% with placebo in the 5,009 patient study, representing a relative reduction of 26% (95% confidence interval 11-39%). "The 26% reduction of fatality rate is similar to that seen in the ISAM, GISSI, and ISIS-2 trials for streptokinase (12%, 18% and 21%, respectively, or 16%, 20%, and an estimated 27% for patients treated within 6 hours of onset)," the investigators observed. "The effect on 6 month mortality in ASSET will be described later but, by analogy with the late results of GISSI, it seems likely that the difference between groups observed at one month will remain unchanged".