Plavix inferior to standard drug in stroke study

DALLAS (Reuters) – A blood clot preventer sold by
Bristol-Myers Squibb Corp. and Sanofi-Aventis was inferior to
the most commonly used blood thinner for the prevention of
stroke in patients with irregular heart rhythm, according to a
study presented on Monday.

The study, which was co-sponsored by the drugmakers, was
halted early by independent safety monitors who saw an
unacceptably high incidence of stroke and other heart risks in
the Plavix group compared to those taking the standard oral
anticoagulant, warfarin.

“The message is clear that warfarin is superior to Plavix,”
said Stuart Connolly, the lead investigator and director of the
cardiology division at McMaster University in Hamilton,
Ontario.