Lilly pits experimental drug against Plavix in head-to-head trial

Eli Lilly is pitting an experimental anti-clotting medication against an approved product in a high-stakes gamble aimed at quickly earning a high level of credibility with doctors. Some 13,000 patients will test Lilly's prasugrel against the best-selling Plavix from Bristol-Myers Squibb. In most cases, US drug makers test their drugs against a placebo. A successful outcome would give Lilly and its partner Sankyo a big leg up in gaining market share when the drug is introduced, if it is approved by the FDA. The trial should end in 2007.

- read this article from the Indianapolis Star for more