Plavix inferior to standard drug in stroke study

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 (clopidogrel) 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.

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