The rivaroxaban vascular dose, 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 100 mg once daily, demonstrated a 24% reduction in the combined risk of stroke, cardiovascular death and heart attack /
The application for marketing approval is based on the COMPASS study /
If approved, the rivaroxaban vascular dose, 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin low dose once daily, will be the only non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) indicated for this patient population
BERLIN, Germany I November 6, 2017 I Bayer has submitted an application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the marketing authorization of the vascular dose of its Factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) in combination with aspirin for the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD). The submission is based on results of the Phase III COMPASS study, which showed that the vascular dose of rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin 100 mg once daily reduced the risk of the composite outcome of stroke, cardiovascular (CV) death and heart attack by an unprecedented 24% (relative risk reduction) compared with aspirin 100 mg once daily alone in patients with CAD or PAD. A filing in the US is expected by the end of the year.
“Heart attack and stroke represent a major public health burden and new, more effective treatment options are needed,” said Dr Joerg Moeller, Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer AG’s Pharmaceutical Division and Head of Development. “Millions of people die each year of cardiovascular disease and we are committed to helping patients access life-saving treatment options and maintain a good quality of life. With rivaroxaban we have a medicine that has already helped millions of patients and we look forward to bringing this treatment option to many more patients in the future.”
It is estimated that cardiovascular disease, which includes CAD and PAD, is responsible for some 17.7 million deaths every year, representing 31% of all global deaths. Additionally, patients with cardiovascular disease have a reduction in life expectancy of over 7 years. CAD and PAD are caused by atherosclerosis, a chronic, progressive disease which is characterized by a build-up of plaque in the arteries. Patients with these conditions are at risk of thrombotic events which may lead to disability, loss of limb and loss of life. Current treatment guidelines recommend antiplatelet therapies such as aspirin alone; however this has been shown to be only modestly effective.
As well as demonstrating a significant reduction in the combined efficacy endpoint of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), the COMPASS study also showed that the rivaroxaban vascular dose, 2.5 mg twice daily, plus aspirin 100 mg once daily resulted in a significant reduction in stroke (42%) and CV death (22%) compared to aspirin 100 mg once daily alone. Furthermore, the combination regimen was associated with a 20% improvement in net clinical benefit, defined as the reduction in stroke, CV death, and heart attack balanced against the most serious bleeding events.
Bleeding incidence rates were low, and while there was an increase in major bleeding, notably there was no significant increase in fatal or intracranial bleeding. Importantly, in the PAD patient population, the combination of major adverse limb events plus all major amputations of a vascular cause were reduced significantly. The results of the COMPASS study were presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2017 and published simultaneously in The New England Journal of Medicine in August 2017.
COMPASS is part of the extensive evaluation of rivaroxaban, which, by the time of completion, will include more than 275,000 patients in clinical trials and real-world studies. In addition to COMPASS, Bayer is investigating rivaroxaban in other studies in the area of cardiovascular disease including VOYAGER PAD (patients with PAD undergoing peripheral artery interventions) and COMMANDER-HF (patients with chronic heart failure and significant CAD).
About Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
Rivaroxaban is the most broadly indicated non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) worldwide and is marketed under the brand name Xarelto®. Xarelto is approved for seven indications, protecting patients across more venous and arterial thromboembolic (VAT) conditions than any other NOAC:
• The prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and one or more risk factors
• The treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) in adults
• The treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in adults
• The prevention of recurrent PE and DVT in adults
• The prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult patients undergoing elective hip replacement surgery
• The prevention of VTE in adult patients undergoing elective knee replacement surgery
• The prevention of atherothrombotic events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke) after an Acute Coronary Syndrome in adult patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers and no prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) when co-administered with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) alone or with ASA plus clopidogrel or ticlopidine
Whilst licences may differ from country to country, across all indications Xarelto is approved in more than 130 countries.
Rivaroxaban was discovered by Bayer, and is being jointly developed with Janssen Research & Development, LLC. Xarelto is marketed outside the U.S. by Bayer and in the U.S. by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Janssen Research & Development, LLC and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson).
Anticoagulant medicines are potent therapies used to prevent or treat serious illnesses and potentially life-threatening conditions. Before initiating treatment with anticoagulant medicines, physicians should carefully assess the benefit and risk for the individual patient.
Responsible use of Xarelto is a very high priority for Bayer, and the company has developed a Prescribers Guide for physicians and a Xarelto Patient Card for patients to support best practice.
Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2016, the Group employed around 99,600 people and had sales of EUR 34.9 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.2 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.4 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.
SOURCE: Bayer
