US FDA OKs Lilly, Daiichi's Effient blood thinner

WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.N) and Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd's (4568.T) long-awaited bloodthinner Effient, the agency said on Friday.

The drug, a rival to Sanofi-Aventis SA (SASY.PA) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co's (BMY.N) blockbuster drug Plavix, will include a "black box" warning about the drug's potential for "significant, sometimes fatal, bleeding," the FDA said.

The drug, also known as prasugrel, should also not be used in those with certain bleeding, a history of stroke or an urgent need for surgery, the agency said in a statement. (Reporting by Susan Heavey, editing by Matt Daily)