U.S. FDA Gives Priority Review to Daiichi, Lilly Competitor To Plavix

The U.S. FDA granted priority review to a drug co-developed by Japan's Daiichi Sankyo and U.S. firm Eli Lilly, intended to prevent development of blood clots. Whether the FDA would grant the review has been closely watched since the drug, Effient (prasugrel), is considered Lilly's most-important pipeline drug. Under the priority review procedure, the FDA has six months to decide whether to approve Effient, which would compete with Plavix (clopidogrel), developed by Sanofi Aventis and marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb. In trials, Effient was shown to be 19 percent more efficient than Plavix. (Click here for more