Medicines Co. Gets New Approval For Clotting Drug

NEW YORK (AP) — The Medicines Co. said Friday the Food and Drug Administration granted new marketing exclusivity to the company's anti-clotting agent Angiomax, meaning it will not approve generic versions of the drug before September 2010.

Medicines Co. said the FDA granted Angiomax pediatric exclusivity, which applies to patients up to age 16. The approval allows the company to market Angiomax for use in heart procedures for children. The new approval extends marketing exclusivity for Angiomax by six months.

Sales of Angiomax, also called Angiox, totaled $347.8 million in 2008, and Medicines Co. expects significantly better sales this year.