An analysis of 26 clinical trials found no higher risk of heart attacks with AIDS drug abacavir compared with other HIV medicines, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday.

The Food and Drug Administration reviewed data on abacavir after studies showed conflicting information about a possible link to heart attacks.

Abacavir is an ingredient in HIV drugs Ziagen, Trizivir and Epzicom sold by ViiV Healthcare, a joint venture between GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Pfizer Inc. Glaxo is the majority partner.

The FDA said doctors should continue to prescribe abacavir as directed. The agency had disclosed it was reviewing the heart attack data in 2008.

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WASHINGTON
(Reuters)