The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis an additional six-month market exclusivity period for acute coronary syndrome drug Plavix.

Plavix is joint-marketed by the two companies and used to treat acute coronary syndrome in patients who are managed medically or through coronary revascularisation.

The drug has been shown to decrease the rate of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke or refractory ischemia.

Exclusivity in the US is now scheduled to expire on 17 May 2012.