In final draft guidance published today NICE has confirmed its earlier positive draft decision recommending rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Bayer Healthcare), in combination with clopidogrel and aspirin, or with aspirin alone, as an option.

An acute coronary syndrome happens when one or more of the blood vessels in the heart become narrowed or blocked. Where the blood supply to the heart is blocked, this can lead to heart attacks (ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)) where there is damage to the heart muscle.

People who have a heart attack are at higher risk of having further events. In 2009/10 there were 57,000 admissions for heart attacks in England, with 28,000 subsequent heart attacks.

Rivaroxaban is licensed for the prevention of blood clots in adults who have an acute coronary syndrome severe enough to result in the release of cardiac biomarkers into the blood that show heart muscle has been damaged. It is given with aspirin and clopidogrel, another drug that helps to prevent the blood from clotting, or with aspirin alone.

For more details, go to: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/press-and-media/nice-draft-guidance-recommends-rivaroxaban-xarelto-to-prevent-blood-clots-in-people-who-have-had-a-heart-attack-2