Astra drug shows faster onset/offset than Plavix

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov 18 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca Plc's (AZN.L) experimental Brilinta blood clot preventer began working much faster than widely-used Plavix and the intended effect wore off more quickly, according to data from a mid-stage study presented on Wednesday.

Each of those effects is extremely desirable depending on the type of heart procedure a patient is in need of, and could give AstraZeneca an important marketing edge when its drug begins competing with Plavix, now the standard of care with annual sales of about $9 billion for Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (BMY.N) and Sanofi-Aventis SA (SASY.PA).

Analysts see Brilinta as a potential multibillion-dollar-a-year seller for AstraZeneca, which plans to file an application seeking U.S. approval later this year.

Brilinta showed greater inhibition of platelet aggregation, or clumping, than Plavix at half an hour, one hour, two, four eight and 24 hours after patients received the initial treatment dose, the company said.

The data were presented at the American Heart Association scientific meeting in Orlando. (Reporting by Bill Berkrot and Ransdell Pierson, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)