Bayer Withdraws Antibleeding Drug Trasylol

Dan Frith

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Bayer has announced it is suspending sales of Trasylol worldwide amid evidence that the antibleeding drug may have a higher risk of death than similar drugs. Trasylol is an antifibrinolytic drug, used to slow the breakdown of blood clots and subsequent excessive bleeding. The drug is widely used in heart-bypass surgery, by reducing reduce blood loss, it helps patients avoid transfusions. Problems with Trasylol have been building over the last few months.

In January 2006, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article which found that the drug might be linked to a doubled risk of kidney failure, as well as increased risk of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of the drug's dangers after it was notified that a Canadian research group stopped a study on Trasylol because the drug appeared to increase the risk for death compared to similar drugs used in the study.

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