A diabetes drug developed by AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) has shown great promise in treating people with heart failure.
The use of Farxiga led to "significantly lower risks" of hospitalisation and death, investors were told.
Already a blockbuster treatment for type-2 diabetes, Farxiga has since been approved for chronic kidney disease and to prevent heart attacks.
A new indication offers hope to the 64mln people worldwide that suffer heart failure, which happens in four stages and usually occurs when the main blood pumping organ is either too weak or stiff to perform its main function.
The latest update emanated from a phase III assessment of Farxiga, which achieved the primary goals.
Specifically, the trial revealed there was a statistically significant 18% reduction in the risk of heart-related death, heart failure hospitalisation and urgent heart failure visits.
If the regulatory authorities accept the data and sign off the drug for its new indication, the market for the product could increase by about half.
Last year, Farxiga’s sales were just over US$3bn having grown by 53% year on year.