Soriot’s $3.5B Brilinta dream is dashed by yet another big trial flop for AstraZeneca
Four years ago, when Pascal Soriot stepped to the helm of the faltering AstraZeneca, he based his turnaround plan on a vow that the pharma giant could transform Brilinta into a blockbuster franchise, eventually promising investors $3.5 billion in annual revenue.
Now, after its second consecutive setback in the clinic this year, Soriot is finally backing off that number.
This time, the drug failed to demonstrate a benefit over generic Plavix (clopidogrel) for peripheral artery disease. Back in March, the heart drug flopped in a large stroke study, unable to prove that it could beat aspirin. And Soriot can chalk up those expensive studies to proving Brilinta’s serious deficiencies.
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