Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis drug criticised in study

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis’ Avapro has been criticised by a study.

Marketed by the two companies, the research – due to be presented on Tuesday at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association in New Orleans – found that the drug didn’t benefit people with a certain type of heart failure.

Funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis, the research tested people with heart failure, who have a normal or near-normal measure of heart function, which is known as left ventricular ejection fraction.

The experiment saw more than 4,100 patients from 25 countries, who were at least 60 years old.

Of the people examined, about half took Avapro, while the other half took a fake pill, or placebo.

The study’s aim was to compare the rates of death from any cause or hospitalisation for a cardiovascular cause, such as heart failure, heart attack or stroke.

Though Avapro isn’t approved to treat heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the study’s researchers found that such drugs have been shown to help heart-failure patients who have suffered from low left ventricular ejection fraction in the past.

Bristol-Myers Squibb employs 41,000 people and has global sales of $19.3 billion (12.7 billion pounds).