Boehringer Ingelheim study shows safety benefits of Pradaxa

Boehringer Ingelheim has published new clinical data that demonstrates the safety benefits provided by its atrial fibrillation therapy Pradaxa.

A new analysis from the 18,113-patient RE-LY trial has demonstrated that Pradaxa is associated with significantly lower rates of fatal and traumatic intracranial haemorrhage compared to warfarin patients.

Haemorrhages of this kind are among the most serious complications associated with anticoagulation therapy and are the leading cause of disability and death from bleeding related to treatment, particularly affecting older patients.

Assessing the risk of intracranial haemorrhage is an important part of reviewing the benefit-risk profile of anticoagulation therapy, thus underlining the advantages offered by Pradaxa.

Dr Stuart Connolly, director of the division of cardiology at McMaster University, said: "This data shows us that not only is Pradaxa associated with lower rates of intracranial haemorrhage overall, but that fatal and traumatic intracranial bleeding is also reduced, highlighting the favourable safety profile of Pradaxa."

Earlier this month, Boehringer Ingelheim received UK approval for its ischaemic stroke treatment Actilyse to be utilised in an expanded treatment window.