Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant Astrazeneca said it has been granted permission to use its Brilinta heart drug on patients in the US.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) backed the use of Brilinta tablets to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and death, Astrazeneca said in a statement.

Astrazeneca is hoping that the drug, which won EU approval in late 2010, can rival current blockbuster heart drug Plavix that is produced by pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis and BMS.

“The FDA approval of Brilinta is good news for patients in the US and represents a significant milestone as we seek to help ensure... patients around the world have access to this innovative medicine,” Astrazeneca chief executive David Brennan said in the statement.

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