Feud May Brew Over Blood-Thinning Drugs

By Anonymous

If Eli Lilly and Co. wins approval for its highly anticipated blood thinner, it could spark a bit of a family feud with Bristol- Myers Squibb Co., the maker of a competing drug.

There are some signs it already is.

Indianapolis-based Lilly has compared its drug prasugrel head-to- head with New York-based Bristol-Myers’ Plavix, the current leading blood thinner. Co-marketed with France-based Sanofi-Avenits, Plavix generated $8.5 billion in sales last year.

Defending Plavix’s revenue and profits until its U.S. patent expires in 2011 is vital for Bristol-Myers’ CEO Jim Cornelius, a former Lilly executive. Cornelius, who still lives in Zionsville, was Lilly’s chief financial officer from 1983 to 1994.

When analysts asked about the potential threat from prasugrel, a Bristol-Myers executive dismissed it as a “niche” product.

“The way I see it, if and when prasugrel is approved, it will be a niche product,” said Lamberto Andreotti, chief operating officer of Bristol-Myers. He added, “There are three important subgroups of patients that seem to derive either net harm or no net clinical benefit from prasugrel.”

He referred to increased and even fatal bleeding prasugrel caused in patients older than 75, below 135 pounds or who had a history of stroke, according to clinical trial results published in November.

In that study, prasugrel achieved a 19-percent greater reduction in heart attacks, strokes and deaths than Plavix when given to patients before surgeries and procedures – including the use of stents – to open blocked arteries. Lilly officials say such patients account for no more than 25 percent of the blood-thinner market.

Bristol-Myers officials estimated prasugrel could treat about 15 percent of the market. The U.S. Food and Drug administration will render a decision on prasugrel in late-September. If approved, it will be sold under the name Effient.

Lilly will split any sales from prasugrel with its development partner, Japan-based Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd.

Copyright IBJ Corporation Aug 4, 2008

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