Apixaban, Xarelto deliver good results in studies

Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb's blood thinner apixaban beat aspirin in a study that may open the door to a multi-billion dollar-a-year market to prevent clots. Meanwhile, rival drug Xarelto made by Bayer delivered good results in dissolving potentially clots in the legs as well as preventing new ones--without causing either excessive bleeding or liver problems. Apixaban, a Factor Xa inhibitor, was studied in the double-blind, randomized Averroes trial that recruited 5,600...

BMS, Pfizer wrap apixaban stroke trial early on positive verdict

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer decided to close out a late-stage clinical trial of their heart drug apixaban--a potential megablockbuster --a couple of months ahead of schedule after concluding they had achieved the kind of results they had hoped for when they launched the study three years ago. An independent monitoring committee concluded that the anti-clotting drug was better than aspirin in preventing strokes and systemic embolism among atrial fibrillation patients unable to take warfarin,...