J&J, Bayer's Xarelto Cuts Blood Clot Risks

March 18, 2017

New data showed that long-term use of the oral blood thinner Xarelto cut the risk of recurrence of possible life-threatening blood clots with no additional major bleeding compared with low-dose aspirin in patients at elevated risk, according to a Reuters article.

Researchers said the results could change treatment of patients who have suffered dangerous blood clots known as venous thromboembolisms (VTE), the story said. VTE, which includes painful deep vein thrombosis and often deadly pulmonary embolism, affects more than 900,000 Americans each year.

The study, called Einstein Choice, involved 3,396 patients who had completed 6 to 12 months of anticoagulant therapy for a VTE, the article said. They were then given either 10 or 20 milligrams of Xarelto, known chemically as rivaroxaban, or low-dose aspirin and followed for another year.

Read the Reuters story