Risk said associated with Eli Lilly drug

Indianapolis -- A new experimental drug from Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. has been found to have a risk of major bleeding, sometimes even death, a report says.

While the company's new blood thinner called prasugrel has been found to reduce the risk of heart attacks, it also has been found to have an inherent risk of major bleeding, The Indianapolis Star reported Sunday.

A three-year study into the new medication found that patients already at a high risk of bleeding could be harmed by taking the experimental drug.

In some of these patients, that typically include individuals with a history of strokes and the elderly, this increased bleeding can prove to be fatal, the report said.

A spokeswoman for the company said researchers would attempt to adjust the drug's dosage levels to prevent such side effects, but still praised the medication's positive attributes.

"This is very promising news to those with acute coronary syndrome," spokeswoman Janice Chavers told the Star of the prasugrel results.

© 2007 United Press International.