Sanofi Aventis releases Plavix in Japan

Sanofi-Aventis, the world’s third largest pharmaceutical company, has announced the launch of Plavix in Japan. Plavix is Sanofi-Aventis’s second-biggest seller after Lovenox, bringing in 580 million euros in first quarter net sales (396.8 million pounds) and it has been approved in Japan for the reduction of the recurrence of ischemic cerebrovascular disorder, a disease where blood supply is restricted in the cerebrovascular area.

The company says that cerebrovascular disease is one of the three most-common cause of death in Japan and it expects the drug to “greatly contribute” to the treatment of the country’s two million sufferers.

Sanofi-Aventis will share manufacturing and promotion rights with Daiichi Pharmaceuticals. The company has also announced that clinical trials are currently undergoing for use of the drug in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Plavix, which is also marketed by Bristol Myers-Squibb, uses clopidogrel as its active ingredient. It is taken orally in the form of 75mg tablets and some side effects include severe neutropenia (five in every 10,000 patients) and gastrointestinal bleeding, especially if taken with aspirin. It can also prevent thromboembolisms after the insertion of a stent in combination with aspirin.

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