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FDA NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release: March 12, 2010 Media Inquiries: Sandy Walsh, 301-796-4669, sandy.walsh@fda.hhs.gov Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA FDA Announces New Boxed Warning on Plavix Alerts patients, health care professionals to potential for reduced effectiveness The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today added a boxed warning to the anti-blood clotting drug Plavix (clopidogrel), alerting patients and health care professionals that the drug can be less effective in people who cannot metabolize the drug to convert it to its active form. Plavix reduces the risk of heart attack, unstable angina, stroke, and cardiovascular death in patients with cardiovascular disease by making...

Contact: Alisa Zapp Machalekalisa.machalek@nih.gov 301-496-7301NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences Gene variant linked to risk of stroke and heart attack for those on Plavix NIGMS media availability WHAT: A new study reports that a gene variant carried by about a third of the population plays a major role in this group's response to an anti-clotting medicine, clopidogrel (Plavix). People with the variant produce a defective version of the CYP2C19 enzyme and are less able to activate the drug.One of the world's best-selling medicines, Plavix prevents blood clots in people with heart disease by keeping platelets from sticking together. But about...