Trial Finds New Drug Better Than Common Blood Thinner

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A clinical trial found that apixaban, an anticoagulant drug made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, does better in preventing stroke and blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation, compared to the common drug warfarin.  The results were presented today at the European Society of Cardiology in Paris, and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The five-year trial was led by researchers from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. The findings, say lead author and Duke medical professor Christopher Granger, showed relative reductions of 21 percent in stroke or blood clots, 31 percent reduction in major bleeding, and 11 percent in overall mortality, compared to warfarin.

The authors say apixaban prevented six patients in the trial from having a stroke, 15 patients from having major bleeding, and eight patients from dying.

In addition to its therapeutic benefits, apixaban, unlike warfarin, does not require regular monitoring for dose adjustment and has few interactions with other medications or food. It is also better tolerated than warfarin, with fewer discontinuations.

The study enrolled and randomized more than 18,000 participants at 1,012 sites in 39 countries. The participants were adults with atrial fibrillation and one or more risk factors for stroke (e.g. hypertension), and were given 5 mg twice daily of either apixaban or warfarin for an average of 1.8 years.

Atrial fibrillation is a common abnormal heart rhythm, characterized by  irregular and often rapid heart rate that causes poor blood flow to the body. The potential for blood clots to form, and one’s risk for stroke, increases as a result.

Disclosure: The blog’s editor was diagnosed with a form of atrial fibrillation.

Read more: FDA Approves Anti-Coagulant Drug

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