BARCELONA, Spain, September 1 /PRNewswire/ --
-- New Treatment Could Offer Further Option in Addition to Current Standard of Care in Thromboembolic Disease
Edoxaban, an oral factor Xa inhibitor, is currently being investigated in the pivotal phase III study ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 (Effective aNticoaGulation with factor Xa next GEneration in Atrial Fibrillation) as a potential new treatment for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The new drug, developed solely by DAIICHI SANKYO, could offer improvements in the management of thromboembolic disease.
In Europe, approximately 4.5 million people suffer from AF. "Without anticoagulation treatment these patients have a considerably high risk of having a stroke, approximately five times higher than that of the average population," said John Camm, Professor of Clinical Cardiology, St. George's University of London, UK, during a press conference organised by DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE.
Anticoagulants interfere with the coagulation system resulting in a decreased tendency for the formation of blood clots, and are used to treat and prevent thromboembolic events. Existing anticoagulants, like heparin and vitamin K antagonists have been shown to be effective.(1) However the use of these treatments, particularly vitamin K antagonists, is limited by the requirement for close monitoring, drug-to-drug and food-to-drug interactions, as well as a considerable risk of bleeding.(1)
"There is a definite need for new and improved oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation," commented Jeffrey I. Weitz, MD, FACP, FRCP, Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry, McMaster University and Director of the Henderson Research Centre, Ontario, Canada. "Edoxaban could offer significant improvements in the management of these patients."
A comprehensive phase I and phase II study programme for edoxaban has already indicated dose-dependent anticoagulation over a range of doses, with no significant dose-related increase in bleeding:
- Edoxaban has a safety and tolerability profile similar to
that of warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.(2)
The incidence of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding
events reported in the 30 mg and 60 mg once daily edoxaban treatment
groups was similar to, or better than, those in the warfarin treated
group. These doses of edoxaban are being compared with warfarin in the
ongoing ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 trial.
- Edoxaban demonstrated significant dose-dependent reductions
in venous thromboembolism after total knee or hip replacement
surgery.(3,4)
These data are encouraging for patients and support edoxaban's potential to significantly streamline anticoagulation management, while providing effective protection against severe thromboembolic events like stroke. Results from the phase II studies are important because they have been used to establish the optimal dosing regimen to pursue in the phase III clinical trial ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48.
Experts are anticipating the outcome of this phase III study. "This study is intended to show that atrial fibrillation patients can be treated simply, effectively and safely with once-daily administration of the factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban," said Robert Giugliano, MD, SM, FACC, Senior Investigator, TIMI-Study Group, Associate Physician and Assistant Professor in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 compares two different doses of edoxaban with warfarin in patients with AF. Approximately 16,500 patients will be enrolled in this double-blind trial from 1,400 clinical sites worldwide. Patients will be assigned, in a double-blind, double-dummy fashion, to one of three treatment groups: 30 mg edoxaban once daily, 60 mg edoxaban once daily or warfarin. Edoxaban will be given in fixed doses without coagulation monitoring. In contrast, the dose of warfarin will be adjusted to maintain the international normalised ratio (INR) between 2.0 and 3.0. The primary efficacy endpoint is stroke and systemic events, while the primary safety endpoint is the occurrence of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding events, using the sensitive ISTH (International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis) scale. The expected median treatment duration in the study is 24 months; the sponsor, DAIICHI SANKYO, expects the study to conclude in the first half of 2012.
Notes to editors:
- Phase III trials will also be conducted to assess edoxaban
for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hip or knee
replacement surgery in Asian markets.
- Factor Xa is a key enzyme in blood coagulation. When factor
Xa is inhibited, blood clot formation is attenuated, thereby minimising
The possibility of thromboembolic events, like stroke.
About DAIICHI SANKYO
DAIICHI SANKYO is a global pharmaceutical company that focuses on researching and marketing innovative medications. The company was created in 2005 through the merger of two traditional Japanese enterprises, Daiichi and Sankyo. With net sales of nearly 5.9 billion EUR in fiscal year 2008, DAIICHI SANKYO is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. The company's world headquarters is in Tokyo, and its European base is located in Munich. DAIICHI SANKYO has affiliates in 12 European countries and has been one of the strongest Japanese pharmaceutical companies located in Europe since it set up European production facilities and marketing offices in 1990. The company's research activities focus on the areas of cardiovascular diseases, haematology, diabetes, anti-infectives and cancer. Its aim is to develop medications that are "best" in their class or to create new classes of pharmaceutical drugs. http://www.daiichi-sankyo.eu
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and information about future developments in the sector, and the legal and business conditions of DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE GmbH. Such forward-looking statements are uncertain and are subject at all times to the risks of change, particularly to the usual risks faced by a global pharmaceutical company, including the impact of the prices for products and raw materials, medication safety, changes in exchange rates, government regulations, employee relations, taxes, political instability and terrorism as well as the results of independent demands and governmental inquiries that affect the affairs of the company. All forward-looking statements contained in this release hold true as of the date of publication. They do not represent any guarantee of future performance. Actual events and developments could differ materially from the forward-looking statements that are explicitly expressed or implied in these statements. DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE GmbH assumes no responsibility for the updating of such forward-looking statements about future developments of the sector, legal and business conditions and the company.
References:
(1) Weitz JI, Bates SM. New anticoagulants. J Thromb Haemost. 2005; 3: 1843-53.
(2) Weitz JI, Connolly SJ, Kunitada S, Jin J, Patel I. Randomised, parallel group, multicentre, multinational study evaluating safety of DU-176b compared with warfarin in subjects with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. ASH Annual Meeting 2008; 112: Abstract 33.
(CONTINUA)
