* Plavix/aspirin tops aspirin in preventing strokes
* Patients in study could not take standard warfarin
* Bristol, Sanofi shares up more than 2 percent (Adds physician reaction, share activity)
By Lewis Krauskopf
ORLANDO, Fla., March 31 (Reuters) - Plavix, a blood clot preventer sold by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (BMY.N) and Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA), cut the risk of stroke by 28 percent in patients vulnerable because of irregular heart beats, a large clinical study found.
This use of Plavix could mean a new avenue of growth for what is already one of the world's best-selling drugs.
The 7,554-patient study found that combining Plavix with aspirin resulted in 11 percent fewer cardiac events -- including heart attacks and death -- compared with those taking aspirin alone, the primary goal of the study.
Patients in the study were unable to take warfarin, a blood thinner commonly given to prevent stroke for those with irregular heart beats, or atrial fibrillation.
"The real exciting news was stroke was reduced by 28 percent," said Dr. Stuart Connolly, head of cardiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and the lead investigator of the study presented on Tuesday at the American College of Cardiology scientific meeting in Orlando.
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