Cangrelor: Clinical Data, Contemporary Use, and Future Perspectives

Cangrelor is the only currently available intravenous platelet P2Y(12) receptor inhibitor. It is characterized by potent, predictable, and rapidly reversible antiplatelet effects. Cangrelor has been tested in the large CHAMPION (Cangrelor Versus Standard Therapy to Achieve Optimal Management of Platelet Inhibition) program, where it was compared with different clopidogrel regimens, and it is currently indicated for use in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the uptake of cangrelor use varies across the globe and may also include patients with profiles different from those enrolled in the registration trials. These observations underscore the need to fully examine the safety and efficacy of cangrelor in postregistration studies. There are several ongoing and planned studies evaluating the use of cangrelor in real-world practice which will provide important insights to this extent. The current article provides a review on the pharmacology, clinical studies, contemporary use of cangrelor in real-world practice, a description of ongoing studies, and futuristic insights on potential strategies on how to improve outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.