An antidote to Boehringer Ingelheim’s oral anticoagulant Pradaxa has demonstrated its effectiveness in two key patient groups.
According to data presented at this week’s American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in San Francisco, a five-minute infusion of idarucizumab was able to reverse the blood thinning effects of Pradaxa (dabigatran) in elderly patients and in patients with mild or moderate kidney impairment.
The data follows previous clinical trials that have demonstrated the ability of idarucizumab to reverse the effects of Pradaxa in younger, healthy male volunteers
Dr Georg van Husen, head of Boehringer’s cardiovascular business, said: “These latest data are important because this study included volunteers who were older and who had impaired kidney function – characteristics that are common among patients who require anticoagulation.
“The growing evidence supports idarucizumab as a highly targeted antidote for dabigatran which can provide immediate, complete and sustained reversal.”
Pradaxa is one of several new oral anticoagulants that have revolutionised the treatment and prevention of blood clots in recent years, providing a far more convenient option than older injectable treatments such as warfarin and heparin.
However, despite their inconvenience, the older treatments have effective antidotes if the anticoagulation effect needs to be reversed – something that the newer drugs lack, leading to concerns over their safety.
Pradaxa is doing well for Boehringer despite these concerns, taking in €1.2bn for the 12-month period ending March 2014.
An antidote could push sales further, however, giving the drug an edge over its close rivals Eliquis (apixaban), from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, and Bayer’s Xarelto (rivaroxaban).