Two blockbuster potential stroke/DVT drugs report good results at ESC Congress: Bristol-Myers/Pfizer's apixaban and Bayer/J&J's rivaroxaban

Presentations as the European Cardiology Society meeting taking place in Stockholm, Sweden, showed encouraging late-stage results for two drug candidates that could replace warfarin and aspirin in the prevention of blood clots and stroke and vie for a stake in a global market sector estimated to be worth around $20 billion a year.

Date were revealed on US drug major Bristol-Myers Squibb's (NYSE: BMY) and behemoth Pfizer's (NYSE: PFE) apixaban - showing the drug reduced the rate of stroke by 52% compared with aspirin - and Germany's Bayer (BAY; DE) and USA-based partner Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE: JNJ) Xarelto (rivaroxaban) ' which showed similar efficacy and safety compared to standard therapy, Sanofi-Aventis' Lovenox (enoxaparin) plus warfarin, for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

The Phase III EINSTEIN-DVT clinical trial of the oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban demonstrated non-inferiority compared to the standard of care for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with acute symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT), with a comparable safety profile.