A potential blockbuster blood thinner from AstraZeneca was backed by U. S. advisers on Wednesday.

For recommending the approval of Brilinta for those who are suffering from heart attacks or chest pains, members of a Food and Drug Administration panel voted 7-1.

Brilinta’s use in the U. S. led to reduction in deaths and heart attacks leading to panel members voting 7-1.

Panelist James Neaton, a statistician at the University of Minnesota, said, "The overall results are so striking."

Viren Mehta, an analyst with Mehta Partners in New York, said, "Brilinta has potential to be a big product, especially as new uses of the drug are approved.”

The final decision of the drug’s approval would come on September 16 by the FDA and the agency is not bound to follow the panel’s recommendation but usually it follows.

Plavix, the standard anti-clotting drug now given to prevent heart attacks, sold by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb, would stand in competition against Brilinta. Presently Plavix is world's second-best selling drug with annual sales of about $9 billion.