Boehringer Ingelheim reports efficacy of dabigatran etexilate

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the results of a Re-Model trial showing that the compound dabigatran etexilate is as effective as enoxaparin in the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery.

Data presented at an annual meeting of the American Society of Haemotology in Florida this week showed that there was no difference observed in bleeding rates between dabigatran etexilate and enoxaparin.

While conventional clot-preventing therapies, such as low molecular weight heparin are administered through a number of subcutaneous injections, dabigatran etexilate is administered orally.

Bengt Eriksson, doctor at the department of orthopaedic surgery at the University Hospital Sahlgrenska, said: “A new thromboprophylaxis agent which is given as a pill rather than the standard injection has a great potential to decrease demands on hospital time and resources.”

Dabigatran etexilate does not require weight-adjusted dosing or coagulation monitoring and Boehringer Ingelheim believes this will provide greater convenience to patients.

In November, the company announced that dabigatran etexilate had reached phase III clinical trials.

It reported that the drug was a “frontrunner” in the development of oral anticoagulants with the potential to prevent deep vein thrombosis following knee replacement or hip surgery and treat thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation.