Bayer Schering Pharma reports positive data from DVT drug trial

Bayer Schering Pharma has published clinical data from a new study which supports the efficacy of rivaroxaban, its treatment for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients.

The company recently concluded its Einstein-DVT phase III trial for the oral anticoagulant, which was designed to gauge the effectiveness of the drug compared to enoxaparin followed by a vitamin K antagonist, the current standard of care.

It was found that rivaroxaban demonstrated non-inferiority to the enoxaparin treatment in preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism in patients with acute symptomatic DVT, meaning the primary endpoint of the trial was achieved.

This represents the sixth phase III trial in the ongoing Einstein global development programme in which rivaroxaban has demonstrated either non-inferiority or superiority.

Lead investigator Dr Harry Buller, of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, said: "A novel single-drug approach such as oral rivaroxaban could potentially provide an effective and well-tolerated, simple, fixed-dose regimen for the treatment of DVT as a replacement for current standard therapy."

Earlier this month, it was announced that Bayer Schering Pharma will collaborate with Cancer Research Technology to evaluate innovative leptin antagonist peptides as a potential new cancer treatment.