NICE recommends Daichii Sankyo's Lixiana to prevent stroke and embolism

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended Lixiana (edoxaban) from Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) for preventing stroke and systemic embolism in adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

NVAF is a heart rhythm disorder affecting the top two chambers of the heart. Edoxaban is an oral anticoagulant that directly inhibits factor X (factor Xa), which is a key component in the formation of blood clots.

Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre director, said: “Many people with NVAF find taking warfarin difficult because, among other things, it requires regular monitoring and dose adjustments and can interact with many foods and other drugs. Because edoxaban, like the other newer agents, doesn’t require frequent blood tests to monitor treatment it represents a significant potential benefit for many people with NVAF. There was also evidence that edoxaban had nearly half the rate of hemorrhagic stroke events compared to warfarin. The Committee concluded that, taking all the evidence into account, edoxaban is clinically and cost effective compared with warfarin and can be recommended as an alternative to warfarin for preventing stroke and systemic embolism for people with NVAF who have 1 or more additional risk factors for stroke. The draft guidance states that the decision about whether to start treatment with edoxaban should be made after an informed discussion between the clinician and the person about the risks and benefits of edoxaban compared with warfarin, apixaban, dabigatran etexilate and rivaroxaban. For people who are taking warfarin, the potential risks and benefits of switching to edoxaban should be considered in light of their ability to maintain their blood clotting to acceptable levels.”