Ximelagatran effective, more study needed

Ximelagatran, a drug not approved in the United States, was found to be as effective as other therapies for preventing stroke and recurrent blood clots.

Dr. Jean-Noel Fiessinger of Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou in Paris found Ximelagatran -- approved for use in some European countries -- was as effective as enoxaparin/warfarin, without need for coagulation monitoring -- blood testing -- or dose adjustment.

However, the mechanism and clinical importance of resulting increased liver enzyme levels in Ximelagatran-treated patients requires further evaluation as does a prospective assessment of coronary events, according to Fiessinger.

In a second study, Dr. Jonathan L. Halperin, of Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York compared the efficacy of Ximelagatran with warfarin for prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Low rates of thromboembolism and bleeding occurred when Ximelagatran was given in a fixed dose -- without anticoagulation monitoring, however, further investigation was recommended.

Both studies, funded by Astra-Zeneca, are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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