Bayer HealthCare receives NICE recommendation for Xarelto

Bayer HealthCare has received a National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendation for its drug Xarelto to be used among NHS deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients.

Final guidance from the regulatory body has endorsed the compound as a single-drug therapy for treating DVT and preventing recurrent DVT and pulmonary embolism following an acute event in adults.

Currently, these patients are reliant on a dual-drug regimen of low molecular weight heparin followed by a vitamin K antagonist, an approach that has a number of limitations and side effects.

Dr Kemal Malik, member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee and head of global development, said: "The availability of an effective and well-tolerated single-drug therapy that could also potentially improve the quality of life for patients is good news for physicians and patients alike."

This comes after Xarelto was recommended by NICE earlier this year for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolisms in eligible adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Bayer believes the product has billion-dollar blockbuster potential, making it a key part of the company's future strategy.