A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel of experts said that Crestor can benefit patients with healthy cholesterol levels by preventing heart attack, stroke, and death.

A final decision from the FDA is expected in the first quarter of 2010.

A positive ruling from the FDA will allow AsraZeneca to market the drug to more than 6.5m new patients. AstraZeneca claims that Crestor was the company's third-best selling product last year with sales of $3.6bn.

A study by the company found a 44 per cent reduction in heart problems among patients with normal cholesterol levels, but with elevated levels of C-reactive protein, which is instrumental in causing heart attacks or strokes. Scientists say that Crestor reduces both cholesterol and C-reactive protein.

The drug may lead to diabetes; however, scientists feel that probably all statin drugs have this side effect.