Randomized comparison of ticagrelor versus prasugrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome and planned invasive strategy--design and rationale of the iNtracoronary Stenting and Antithrombotic Regimen: Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment (ISAR-REACT) 5 trial.

In acute coronary syndromes (ACS), a dual antiplatelet regimen with an adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist plus aspirin has become the cornerstone of treatment. The third-generation thienopyridine prasugrel and the cyclopentyl-triazolo-pyrimidine ticagrelor provide a greater, more rapid and consistent platelet inhibition compared to their predecessor clopidogrel. Based on their advantages over clopidogrel in two landmark studies, both drugs received a class I recommendation for their use in ACS patients with and without ST segment elevation. Due to differences in ACS populations and conditions investigated, the relative merits of ticagrelor versus prasugrel in the treatment of ACS patients with planned invasive strategy cannot be reliably estimated from independent trials. To date, no direct head-to-head comparison of ticagrelor and prasugrel in terms of clinical outcome exists. The aim of this multicenter, randomized, open-label trial is to assess whether ticagrelor is superior to prasugrel in ACS patients with planned invasive strategy.