New Lilly Blood Thinner Outperforms Plavix - Study

An experimental new blood thinner was shown to outperform the blockbuster Plavix, but it carries a risk of bleeding, according to a study published this weekend in The New England Journal of Medicine. The new drug, prasugrel, is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Japanese pharmaceutical Daiichi Sankyo, which surged 11% to an 18-month high in Tokyo on the report. Plavix is marketed by sanofi-aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb. The study showed that patients given prasugrel experienced almost 20% fewer instances of heart attack, stroke or heart-related death than those who received Plavix (see full study). For every heart-related death that prasugrel prevented, however, almost one additional bleeding death occurred. Despite the risk, doctors are largely enthusiastic about prasugrel. "I'm encouraged by the results," said the Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Steven Nissen, a regular adviser to the FDA. Nissen said he supports FDA approval of the drug since it significantly cuts non-fatal heart attacks. Doctors in favor argue that it should not be difficult to identify at-risk patients, who include the elderly, the very thin and those with a history of strokes. Lilly and Daiichi Sankyo recently halted two small studies of prasugrel in order to adjust dosing for such patients. Worldwide sales of Plavix, which costs $4 a day, totaled almost $6 billion last year. "[If Plavix and prasugrel] start competing on price, it could be a boon for the health care system," said Yale cardiologist Dr. Harlan Krumholz.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, AP
Commentary: Lilly Suspends Two Trials of Blood-Thinner • Eli Lilly: It’s That We Were Told That’s Telling
Stocks to watch: LLY, Daiichi Sankyo [TYO:4568]. Competitors: SNY, BMY. ETFs: PPH, PJP, IHE
Earnings call transcript: Eli Lilly Q3 2007

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