Bayer HealthCare initiates phase III cardiac study of Xarelto

Bayer HealthCare is initiating a clinical trial that will evaluate the benefits its oral anticoagulant Xarelto (rivaroxaban) can offer to coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients.

The Compass study is set to investigate the drug's efficacy in the prevention of major adverse cardiac events including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke among these patient groups.

Specifically, it will assess potential of rivaroxaban to provide important additional protection to patients when added to aspirin, with around 20,000 patients set to take part in the trial.

Dr Kemal Malik, member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee and head of global development, said: "Compass will evaluate whether the combination has the potential for more complete protection against long-term clot formation in patients with CAD and PAD in comparison to each of the products alone."

Xarelto is already the most broadly indicated new oral anticoagulant available on the market, having been used to treat more than 2.5 million patients since its debut in 2008.

Earlier this month, the drug was approved in the US for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.