Cheap drug to staunch bleeding could save thousands of lives

A cheap drug given to women with heavy periods could save many thousands of lives by preventing injury victims from bleeding to death, it was claimed today.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Jun 2010, 12:06 BST

Updated 15th Jun 2010, 12:07 BST

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a widely available generic (off-patent) drug used to stem excessive bleeding.

A large-scale study partly funded by the Department of Health found up to 100,000 lives worldwide could be saved each year by giving the drug to victims of accidents and violence.

In the UK, TXA could prevent around 280 of the 1,800 deaths that occur each year as a result of bleeding after injury.

As well as being used to treat women with heavy periods, the drug is given to patients undergoing non-emergency surgery and haemophiliacs.

TXA, also known by the brand name Cyklokapron, can be bought on the internet for as little as 15p per 500mg tablet.

The CRASH-2 study spanned 40 countries and involved 20,000 adult patients in 274 hospitals who had suffered traumatic injuries.

TXA was found to reduce the overall risk of death by 10 per cent, and the chances of dying through bleeding by 15 per cent.

Department of Health