October 14th, 2014

Portola Pharma Drug Reverses Effect of Anti-Clotting Drugs in Study

Portola Pharma Drug Reverses Effect of Anti-Clotting Drugs in Study

October 1, 2014

Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc said its drug met the main goal of reversing the effect of anticoagulant drugs in a late-stage study.

Data showed that an intravenous shot of the drug, andexanet alfa, immediately reversed the effect of Eliquis (apixaban), an anti-clotting drug by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and Pfizer Inc.

Andexanet alfa was well tolerated with no serious adverse events reported.

Detailed data from the trial will be presented in November at the American Heart Association 2014 Scientific Sessions.

"Andexanet alfa represents a potential important advance to the field of anticoagulation for Factor Xa inhibitor patients who suffer a major bleeding event or those requiring emergency surgery," William Lis, chief executive officer of Portola, said in a statement.

"Factor Xa inhibitors have demonstrated a safety advantage compared with older anticoagulants, but the number of patients on these newer drugs who are admitted to the hospital with a major bleed is growing due to their widespread adoption. To address this critical need, our goal is to advance andexanet alfa to the market as quickly as possible under the FDA breakthrough therapy designation," he added.

Andexanet alfa is also being tested against Xarelto (rivaroxaban), a drug made by Bayer Healthcare and Johnson & Johnson's unit Janssen, Portola said in a statement.

 

Thomson Reuters 2014.

PLN Topics:
Cardiology
Anticoagulation