MONDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Approval of the anti-clotting
drug Xarelto (rivaroxaban) has been expanded by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration to include treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
or pulmonary embolism.
DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep in the body.
If a clot breaks away and travels to an artery in the lungs, it
becomes a potentially deadly condition called a pulmonary
embolism.
Xarelto was approved last year to treat clots stemming from knee
or hip replacement and to lessen the risk of stroke in people with
a form of abnormal heart rhythm called non-valvular atrial
fibrillation.
The drug's newest approvals were given based on clinical studies
involving 9,478 people, the FDA said in a news release. As with
other anti-clotting drugs, bleeding is the most common side
effect.
Xarelto is produced by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, based in
Raritan, N.J.
More information
The FDA has more about
this approval.