Idraparinux inferior to warfarin in 2005 AF trial

Data from a study of French drug major Sanofi-Aventis' developmental antithrombotic idraparinux indicate that the drug caused more cases of clinically-significant bleeding than warfarin when used to prevent thromboembolism in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. Specifically, there were 346 events in the drug-treated group versus 226 in those who received warfarin.

The findings, which are published in the current edition of medical journal The Lancet, are from an assessment that was halted, ahead of schedule, in 2005. Sanofi said that it has adjusted the dosing schedule used in a new trial of the drug in AF, which was initiated late last year.