STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-AstraZeneca gains on hopes for Brilinta

Shares in AstraZeneca (AZN.L) rise 3 percent as U.S. Food and Drug Administration documents, released ahead of a July 28 advisory panel, raise hopes for its experimental blood thinner Brilinta.

Although FDA reviewers give mixed views, their comments were more benign than some investors had feared, suggesting the panel may recommend approval, despite Brilinta's lack of benefit for the relatively small number of North American patients in a company study of 18,000 people.

"The FDA reviewers seem prepared to look at the totality of the data and to recommend approval of Brilinta with a requirement for a post-approval U.S. study," says Deutsche Bank analyst Mark Clark. Brilinta would compete directly with Plavix, sold by Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY.N).

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