A recent trial conducted by scientists from pharmaceutical companies Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer Inc. showed that Eliquis (apixaban), a therapy developed jointly by the two companies, produced similar results as typical therapies when treating patients suffering from pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.
The study, Apixaban for the Initial Management of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis as First-Line Therapy (AMPLIFY), tested patients with recurring Venous thromboembolism (VTE). The patients were treated either with Eliquis or the commonly prescribed subcutaneous enoxaparin and oral warfarin.
“For the millions of patients worldwide who experience VTE, the risks of recurrence and major bleeding are highest during the first few weeks of anticoagulant therapy,” Dr. Giancarlo Agnelli, co-author of the study's publication, said. “These findings indicate that the favorable benefit-to-risk profile of Eliquis was demonstrated early during treatment for VTE, including the use of a higher Eliquis dose of 10 milligrams twice daily for the initial seven days.”
The patients treated with Eliquis experienced significantly fewer bleeding events.
VTE can refer to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in a vein, or pulmonary embolism (PE), a blood clot blocking blood vessels in the lungs. PE is potentially fatal.
Eliquis works by blocking the blood clotting protein Factor Xa, which lessens the occurrence of thrombin and the formation of blood clots.
For more information about Eliquis, visit www.pfizer.com.
