FDA: Eli Lilly blood thinner has clear benefits

U.S. Federal health officials said a blood thinner from Eli Lilly offers life-saving benefits over drugs currently on the market, though its use may have to be restricted due to bleeding side effects. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the highly anticipated drug, called prasugrel, as a therapy for patients with acute heart problems such as heart attacks, who face increased risk of blood clots. Lilly developed the drug with Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo. In a 357-page review posted online, FDA reviewers said the drug's effectiveness over the leading blood thinner Plavix "seems beyond question." Plavix, the second-best-selling prescription medicine in the world, is made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis. Like Plavix, pragrusel works by stopping components of blood, called platelets, from sticking together and clotting.