Bank Of America Believes DAPT Adds To Precedent For PEGASUS Success For AstraZeneca

In a report published Monday, Bank of America analyst Sachin Jain reiterated a Buy rating and $80.50 price target on

. In the report, Bank of America noted, “The DAPT (dual-antiplatelet therapy) study was presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) congress and published in the NEJM yesterday. The study demonstrated that continuing dual anti-platelet therapy (Plavix/Effient) for 30 months vs 12 months following the insertion of a drug eluting heart stent (DES) reduced the incidence of CV events & strokes. The results of another study showing benefit of long duration of DAPT increases our confidence that AZN's PEGASUS study of prolonged Brilinta (anti-platelet) use after ACS should yield positive data (expected 4Q14). As a reminder, PEGASUS investigates the efficacy of Brilinta in patients with a history of MI within the previous 1-3 years (vs current label for use in patients after a recent MI). Maintain Buy.” AstraZeneca closed on Friday at $72.85.