INGELHEIM, Germany - Tuesday, April 8th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

    New indications for Pradaxa® offer U.S. DVT and PE patients a simple treatment option that is as effective as warfarin with significantly less bleedings1,2,3
    Almost one in three DVT or PE patients die within three months; DVT-related PE is the leading cause of preventable death in hospital4,5
    FDA approval broadens use of Pradaxa® in the U.S.; Pradaxa® is already approved for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation6

(BUSINESS WIRE) For media outside of the U.S., the UK & Canada only

Boehringer Ingelheim today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate) for the treatment of DVT and PE in patients who have been treated with a parenteral (injectable) anticoagulant for five to 10 days, and to reduce the risk of recurrent DVT and PE in patients who have been previously treated.

“Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease after myocardial infarction and stroke. About one-third of patients with a DVT or PE will suffer a recurrence within 10 years,” said Samuel Z. Goldhaber, M.D., Director of Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Thrombosis Research Group and Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. “Dabigatran has an established efficacy and safety profile for stroke risk reduction in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. This new FDA approval expands dabigatran’s indications to include treatment and the reduction of the risk of recurrence of DVT and PE.”

The FDA approval is based on results from four robust phase III clinical trials involving almost 10,000 patients that demonstrated the efficacy of Pradaxa® 150 mg twice daily in the treatment and prevention of recurrent DVT and PE.1,2,3 Trial data also showed a 92% reduction in the risk of recurrent blood clots versus placebo.2 Results showed that DVT or PE patients taking Pradaxa® experienced significantly lower rates of bleeding, resulting in a favourable overall safety profile.3

Pradaxa® has the longest clinical trial experience in DVT and PE patients of any novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC). Pradaxa® simplifies treatment for patients and physicians as it is the only approved oral anticoagulant which does not require a mandatory dose change during the standard course of treatment. DVT and PE patients can start taking Pradaxa® in a simple fixed dose regimen after initial treatment with an injectable anticoagulant such as low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH).2,6,7,8

“Boehringer Ingelheim is pleased that patients in the U.S. will now have access to a new and convenient treatment option for these life-threatening and complex conditions,” said Professor Klaus Dugi, Chief Medical Officer, Boehringer Ingelheim. “The approval of these new indications represents another significant landmark for Pradaxa®, and this positive news further strengthens our commitment to optimising patient management in the field of anticoagulation.”

Clinical experience of Pradaxa® exceeds that of all other NOACs, equating to over 2.7 million patient-years in all licensed indications worldwide.9 Already approved by the FDA to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF)6, Pradaxa® is the only NOAC to have shown in its clinical trial (RE-LY®) a significant reduction in the incidence of both ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes in patients with NVAF compared to warfarin.10,11 Ischaemic strokes which account for nine out of 10 strokes experienced by patients with AF can have devastating consequences and are often fatal or severely disabling.12,13

For more information on Pradaxa® DVT and PE clinical trials, please visit: http://www.newshome.com/dvt-pe.aspx

Please click on the link below for ‘Notes to Editors’ and ‘References’:

http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/news/news_releases/press_releases/2014/08_april_2014_dabigatranetexilate.html

Contacts
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
Julia Meyer-Kleinmann
Phone: +49 6132 – 77 8271
Fax: +49 6132 – 77 6601
E-mail: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Boehringer
More information
www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

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