25 August 2015 - The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has issued a final recommendation for Sankyo’s blood thinner Lixiana (edoxaban) for the treatment and prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in adults.

Clinical trials show that the drug - a once-daily selective factor Xa-inhibitor belonging to the Non-VKA Oral Anti-Coagulants class - works as well veteran anticoagulant warfarin but with a superior safety profile, significantly reducing the risk of major bleeds.

Daily treatment costs £2.10 per patient (excluding locally negotiated discounts), and so the Institute concluded that its incremental cost effectiveness ratio was likely to fall in line with other oral anticoagulants.

VTE is associated with considerable clinical burden and is often fatal. As Sankyo notes, the number of casualties in Europe annually due to VTE is double that of deaths from breast cancer, prostate cancer, AIDS and traffic accidents combined.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/15-08-26/NICE_green_light_for_Sankyo_s_bloodthinner_Lixiana.aspx