AstraZeneca has managed to race ahead of competition, thanks to an expanded label in the US for Crestor, the pharma company's key heart drug. However, the medicine's future still seems to be uncertain ahead of an important patent trial which will happen during the month.

On Tuesday, shares of the giant pharmaceutical company surged by 2.2%, outperforming a an otherwise flat European medicines sector, as investors delightfully welcomed the broad label which would now allow Crestor to prevent heart disease in people who otherwise have normal cholesterol levels, but might be facing other heart risks.

Crestor has now managed to become the only cholesterol-lowering stating medicine which has been approved for such use, and AstraZeneca strongly believes that this will allow the company to maintain the strategic high and firm ground, despite fierce and growing competition.

The sale of Crestor is expected to hit $6.5 Billion in the year 2013, which is a substantial increase from the $4.5 Billion figure that was recorded for 2009.