FDA Approves Fragmin for Chest Pain

	May 27, 1999 - A drug used to prevent blood clots
during surgery can now also be used to treat patients
with certain types of heart attacks or chest pain due to
heart disease. The FDA approved dalteparin sodium injection
(Fragmin) for treatment of life-threatening unstable angina
and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction - a type of heart
attack - in patients taking aspirin.
	Unstable angina is chest pain caused by a reduction
of blood flow to the heart. The drug, a form of heparin, is
currently on the USA market to prevent blood clots in
patients having abdominal or hip replacement surgery.
	The approval was based on 2 international studies
showing that Fragmin reduces the risk of heart attack and
death when given twice daily with aspirin to patients during
days 5 to 8 of treatment for unstable angina and non-Q-wave
heart attack.
	The FDA also approved the drug for prevention of
ischemia - a reduction in blood flow to the heart - in
patients on aspirin therapy who may have developed a blood
clot. Fragmin may help stabilize a patient awaiting additional
testing and treatment. This could lower the risk of unexpected
heart attacks which occur as a result of unstable angina.