The FDA on Monday approved expanded use of stavudine, theexperimental drug for AIDS patients who cannot take AZT orDDI, the two drugs chiefly used in treating the disease.

Also called d4T, stavudine, which is made by Bristol-MyersSquibb Co., inhibits progress of the human immodeficiencyvirus, the agency said.

Early results from clinical trials to determine if the drug candelay the onset of AIDS or extend a patient's life are beingcarried out on 259 patients, and they indicate at least atemporary beneficial effect from the drug, the FDA said. SomeAIDS patients previously were ineligible for the drug.

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