A novel testing service to rapidly identify stroke patients not responding to Clopidogrel antithrombotic therapy, and switch them to alternative effective medication. (Platelet Solutions-RPFT).

PLATELET SOLUTIONS LTD (PS Ltd.) is a micro-SME founded on extensive research and
experience in Cardiovascular Medicine at Nottingham University. A stroke occurs when
blood flow in the brain is interrupted; either due to blood clots, ischaemic stroke (IS), or an
artery bursts (haemorrhagic stroke). One occurs every 3 mins 27 s in the UK striking people
of all ages - each year in the UK there are 90.1k ISs, and 46k transient ischaemic attacks
(TIAs or mini-strokes, where symptoms resolve in 24 hrs). In 2009 the total annual costs of
stroke care were estimated at £9b - 5% of total UK NHS costs - direct care of £4.5b, informal
care £2.4b, and indirect costs of £2.1b. Within 5 years of the first stroke there is a ca. 25% risk
of recurrence of a more debilitating event. To reduce the risk of another stroke all patients
after IS and TIA receive antiplatelet treatment with clopidogrel for life. However, not all
patients respond to the drug therapy and no testing is performed to identify them placing this
sub-group at higher risk of another stroke. We have developed a commercially and technology
innovative testing service to identify patients who are not benefiting from clopidogrel drug
therapy and for whom widely available alternative therapy (aspirin with dipyridamole) would
be beneficial. We project that full uptake of the service could save the NHS up to £38.5m p.a.
in direct medical costs, and the UK economy £79.1m p.a. in informal care and productivity
loses. Success of the project will transform Platelet Solutions Ltd. to a SME.