4p pill cuts heart attack risk better than aspirin

A NEW pill is said to work better than aspirin at cutting heart attack risks and scientists want it to be the preferred drug of treatment on the NHS.

- BY MARTIN BAGOT

Blood thinner clopidogrel costs less than 4p a tablet.

Millions of Brits with heart disease currently take a daily aspirin, known as an anti-platelet medication, to lower the risk of a coronary or stroke. But clopidogrel slashes those chances by an additional 14 per cent. A global consortium of researchers, including from Imperial College London, concluded that it offers “superior protection”.

British Heart Foundation chief scientific officer Professor Bryan Williams said: “These findings are likely to impact the medications doctors prescribe to their patients to reduce their risk of future heart problems.

“Aspirin is a commonly prescribed drug to help prevent repeat heart attacks and strokes.