Bayer/J&J's Xarelto will drive anticoagulant market

Market entries of oral agents that do not require dose- adjustment or monitoring, particularly the entry of Bayer/Johnson & Johnson's future blockbuster Xarelto (rivaroxaban), will drive the anticoagulant drug market to more than double, from $3.0 billion in 2006 to $7.4 billion in 2016, according to pharmaceutical research and advisory firm Decision Resources.

DR's new Pharmacor report, entitled Anticoagulants, finds that, with its fixed-dose, once-daily administration, the factor Xa inhibitor Xarelto will best fulfil the need for a convenient oral anticoagulant in the treatment of major thrombotic events. These indications, which account for more than half of the total anticoagulant market, include stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, the prevention and acute treatment of venous thromboembolism and acute coronary syndrome.

The report finds that the launch of simple-to-use agents, such as Xarelto, other factor Xa inhibitors and oral thrombin inhibitors, will encourage new prescriptions in place of (and the switching of existing patients from) vitamin K antagonists whenever long-term anticoagulation is indicated. The market potential for new premium-priced oral anticoagulants is highest in the prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation and in the secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism.