Plavix's New Generic Status Could Be Boon for Patients

The blockbuster drug Plavix (clopidogrel), used to prevent clotting in some heart patients, will go off patent in the United States on Thursday, making it considerably more affordable.

Adherence rates will improve as a result, and fewer patients will suffer from preventable cardiovascular problems, said Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a professor of medicine and director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center in Los Angeles.

"This medication has helped millions of patients avoid fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events," said Fonarow, who also is a spokesman for the American Heart Association. But its high cost has "contributed to patients not filling initial prescriptions for the drug and premature discontinuation of clopidogrel," he said.
Patients who stop taking the drug prematurely may then face catastrophic consequences, including fatal cardiovascular events and strokes, he added.

Plavix works by helping prevent platelets in the blood from sticking together to form clots. The drug usually is taken along with aspirin, which acts as a blood thinner to prevent heart attack and stroke.

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