INVESTORS Sébastien [email protected] [email protected] New Large-Scale, Global Study Provides Additional Information About an Intensified Dose-Regimen of Plavix® in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Undergoing Angioplasty -No added benefit on the composite primary end-point with the higher dose when entire ACS study population considered - -Important new findings with higher loading dose of PLAVIX® for heart patients undergoing coronaryangioplasty (PCI)- (Paris, France and Princeton, New Jersey, August 30, 2009) – Today, the OASIS
study group will present initial results of the CURRENT-OASIS 7 clinical trial at the European
Society of Cardiology congress in Barcelona. Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN, and NYSE:
SNY) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), co-commercialization and co-development
partners for PLAVIX (clopidogrel bisulfate), were sponsors of the study.
CURRENT-OASIS 7 is the largest clinical trial (25,087 patients) to evaluate different
dosing regimens of PLAVIX plus aspirin in a broad range of acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
patients (UA/NSTEMI/STEMI). The study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of an
intensified clopidogrel regimen (600 mg loading dose day 1 / 150 mg days 2-7 / 75 mg days 8-
30) versus the approved PLAVIX® dosage (300 mg loading dose day1 / 75 mg days 2-30) for
patients managed with an early invasive strategy with an intent for percutaneous coronary
The primary end-point (cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke at thirty days) for the
entire study population (including subpopulations of patients that underwent PCI (70%) or not
(30%) examining the difference between the high-dose and standard-dose PLAVIX®
(clopidogrel bisulfate) regimens did not reach statistical significance (4.2% vs. 4.4%, HR 0.95,
For clinically relevant subgroups that were pre-specified for preliminary analyses, such as
the PCI subgroup (70% of the trial population, 17,232 patients), potentially medically relevant
differences in patient outcomes were observed. In this subgroup, analysis showed an
improvement in outcome for patients taking the higher dose regimen (600 mg loading / 150 mg
for days 2-7 / 75 mg days 8-30) over the standard dose regimen (300 mg loading / 75 mg for
days 2-30), as shown by the reduction of the same composite end-point of cardiovascular death,
myocardial infarction and stroke by 15% (4.5% vs 3.9%, p=0.037). In addition, analysis showed
an important 42% relative risk reduction in definite stent thrombosis (1.2% vs 0.7%, p=0.001)
with the higher dose regimen of clopidogrel over the standard loading dose.
“An artery opening procedure with stent placement exposes a patient to an increased risk
of stent occlusion and subsequent heart attack,” said Doctor Jean-Pierre Lehner, Chief Medical
Officer, sanofi-aventis. “CURRENT-OASIS 7 provides important new information about a high-
dose regimen of PLAVIX® in ACS patients planned for PCI. We are pleased to contribute to
furthering the understanding of patient care during the acute phase of coronary intervention.”
The primary safety end-point was assessed by the stringent bleeding definition of OASIS
and while a significant increase in the primary safety end-point of major bleeding with the high-
dose compared to the standard-dose PLAVIX® regimen was observed in the overall trial
population (2.5% vs 2.0%, HR 1.25, p=0.01) and the PCI population (1.6% vs 1.1%, HR 1.44,
p=0.006), there was no statistically significant difference in intracranial bleeding or fatal
hemorrhage in the overall population and the PCI population.
Sanofi-aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb believe that the CURRENT-OASIS 7 data add
to the broad clinical experience with PLAVIX®, which has been used in over 90 million patients
during the 11 years it has been on the market.
About PLAVIX® (clopidogrel bisulfate)
PLAVIX® is recommended daily for patients who have had a recent heart attack or
stroke, or poor circulation in the legs that may cause pain during exercise, such as walking, and
may be relieved by rest (known as peripheral artery disease, or P.A.D.). PLAVIX® is also
recommended in addition to aspirin for patients who have been hospitalized with heart-related
chest pain (unstable angina) or had a heart attack.
Important Risk Information
• PLAVIX® is contraindicated in patients with active pathologic bleeding such as peptic ulcer
or intracranial hemorrhage. PLAVIX® should be used with caution in patients who may be at
risk of increased bleeding from trauma, surgery, or coadministration with NSAIDs or
warfarin. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and PRECAUTIONS.*)
• The rates of major and minor bleeding were higher in patients treated with PLAVIX® plus
aspirin compared with placebo plus aspirin in clinical trials. (See ADVERSE REACTIONS.*)
• As part of the worldwide post marketing experience with PLAVIX®, there have been cases of
reported thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), some with fatal outcome. TTP has
been reported rarely following use of PLAVIX®, sometimes after a short exposure (<2
weeks). TTP is a serious condition that can be fatal and requires urgent treatment including
plasmapheresis (plasma exchange). (See WARNINGS.*)
• In clinical trials, the most common clinically important side effects were pruritus, purpura,
diarrhea, and rash; infrequent events included intracranial hemorrhage (0.4%) and severe
neutropenia (0.05%). (See ADVERSE REACTIONS.*)
*Please see full prescribing information for the United States by visiting www.PLAVIX.com.
For the most updated PLAVIX® labelling information in Europe please refer to:
http://www.emea.europa.eu/humandocs/PDFs/EPAR/PLAVIX/H-174-PI-en.pdf.
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and
distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris
(EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). For more information, please visit:
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to extend
and enhance human life. For more information, visit www.bms.com.
Statement on Cautionary Factors Sanofi-aventis This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include product development, product potential projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future events, operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions. Although sanofi-aventis’ management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of sanofi- aventis, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMEA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such products candidates, the absence of guarantee that the products candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by sanofi-aventis, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in sanofi-aventis’ annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. Bristol-Myers Squibb This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the research, development and commercialization of products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Among other risks, there can be no guarantee that the clinical trials described in this release will support a regulatory filing. Forward-looking statements in the press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb’s business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Bristol-Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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