Article

FDA Approves VTE Prevention Drug Betrixaban

Author(s):

The treatment was tested in a trial of 7,513 patients hospitalized and susceptible to the condition.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BEVYXXA (betrixaban) for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized acute medical illness adult patients who are at risk for thromboembolic complications due to moderate or severe restricted mobility and other risk factors for VTE.

The treatment, produced by Portola Pharmaceuticals, was approval based on data from a randomized, double-blind, multi-national clinical trial.

The trial compared extended duration betrixaban (35-42 days) to short duration of enoxaparin (6-14 days) in the prevention of VTE in a hospitalized population at risk for the condition.

The trial randomized 7,513 patients to either betrixaban or enoxaparin treatment. Patients on the betrixaban arm took an initial dose of 160 mg orally on day 1, then 80 mg once daily for 35-42 days. They also received a placebo injection once daily for 6-14 days.

Patients on enoxaparin received 40 mg subcutaneously once daily for 6-14 days, and took a placebo pill orally once daily for 35-42 days.

Treatment efficacy was measured by a composite outcome score comprised of either the occurrence of asymptomatic or symptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis, non-fatal pulmonary embolism, or VTE-related death. Fewer events were observed in patients receiving betrixaban (4.4%) versus enoxaparin patients (6%).

Over 50% of patients receiving either treatment at least one adverse reaction, with bleeding-related incidences being the the most common adverse reactions with betrixaban. The frequency of patients reporting serious adverse reactions was similar between betrixaban (18%) and enoxaparin (17%). The most frequent reason for treatment discontinuation was bleeding, with an incidence rate for all bleeding episodes of 2.4% and 1.2% for betrixaban and enoxaparin, respectively.

The FDA recommends an initial single dose of 160 mg of betrixaban starting on day 1, followed by 80 mg once daily taken for 35-42 days at the same time each day with food.

A press release regarding the approval was made available.

The Clinical Focus condition center at NeurologyLive, MD Magazine's new sister site, provides even more extensive coverage from the field of stroke prevention and care, as well as updates right from the floor of the field’s most prominent conferences.

Related Coverage

FDA Approves Hereditary Angioedema Attack Treatment

Advair Diskus Generic Inhaler Approved for Asthma

Macitentan Meets Primary, Secondary Endpoints in Phase II Trial

Related Videos
Linda Gillam, MD, MPH | Credit: Atlantic Health System
Steve Nissen, MD | Credit: Cleveland Clinic
Harpreet Bhatia, MD: Benefits of Universal Screening for Lp(a) Levels
Benjamin Scirica, MD | Credit: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Heather Johnson, MD: How to Combat Misconceptions of Statin Drugs in Your Patients
Nihar Desai, MD | Credit: HCPLive.com
Laurence Sperling, MD | Credit: Emory University
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.