PARIS & PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) announced today new findings from a landmark investigational study that demonstrated that, for patients with atrial fibrillation who were at increased risk for stroke and could not take an oral anticoagulant (OAC) medication, taking Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) in addition to aspirin significantly reduced major vascular events by 11% over aspirin alone, at a median of 3.6 years of follow-up (6.8% vs. 7.6% per year, p=0.01). The greatest benefit was seen in the reduction of stroke, by 28% (2.4% vs. 3.3% per year, p<0.001), which is the primary goal of physicians treating patients with atrial fibrillation. Other components of major vascular events -- non-CNS systemic embolism (a blood clot in the bloodstream but not in the brain), heart attack or vascular death -- did not reach statistical significance. Compared to aspirin alone, taking Plavix in addition to aspirin significantly and as expected increased the rate of major bleeding (2.0% vs. 1.3% per year, RR=1.57, p < 0.001). The study results, from the trial called ACTIVE A, were presented today at a late-breaking session during the 58th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology.
