Results from a new study presented today at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology and published in the New England Journal of Medicine (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1113572?query=featured_home ), demonstrated significantly fewer major bleeds in treating patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) with XARELTO® (rivaroxaban), Janssen Research & Development, LLC.
A PE is a potentially life-threatening blood clot that completely or partially blocks an artery in the lung. It occurs when part of a blood clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis-DVT) breaks off and travels to the lung.
Currently, a PE requires initial hospital-based treatment with an injectable blood thinner, followed by long term treatment with an oral blood thinner such as warfarin. This alternative would provide a single treatment with a pill that, according to the study, reduce the risk of major bleeds. Jack Ansell, MD, Chair of the National Blood Clot Alliance’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, say that this “single-drug approach could simplify treatment while preventing blood clots in patients with a PE.”
Randy Fenninger, President of the National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) said that we are “encouraged to see this data. As patients, we need options that help prevent life-threatening blood clots with reduced bleeding risks. We look forward to seeing this new oral blood thinner reviewed by the FDA.”
