Bayer HealthCare receives new European Xarelto approval

Bayer HealthCare has announced that its multipurpose oral anticoagulant Xarelto has been approved in another new indication by the European Commission.

The regulatory body has ratified the drug for use in the prevention of atherothrombotic events after an acute coronary syndrome among adult patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers, in combination with standard antiplatelet therapy.

It becomes the only novel oral anticoagulant to be approved for this specification, with data from phase III trials showing the drug's effectiveness in reducing rates of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke among patients in this group.

Dr Kemal Malik, member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee and head of global development, said: "This approval re-enforces the compelling profile of the product, further extending its clinical value in preventing arterial blood clots."

Xarelto has now been approved for seven distinct uses in the venous arterial thromboembolic space and is available in more than 120 countries.

Last month, the drug was recommended by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for the treatment of pulmonary embolism and preventing recurrent deep vein thrombosis among NHS patients.