Pfizer and BMS to give Eliquis a rolling launch in Europe

pharmafile | May 24, 2011 | News story | Sales and Marketing Eliquis, Pfizer, apixaban, atrial fibrillation 

Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb are gearing up to give their new oral anticoagulant Eliquis a rolling launch in Europe, starting next week.

The newly-approved drug will be made available to prescribers first in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Poland, with additional national launches planned throughout June, A Pfizer spokesman told Pharmafocus.

Eliquis (apixaban) has just been approved in Europe for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in adult patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery.

Once launched it will be up against two established VTE drugs, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Pradaxa (dabigatran) and Bayer’s Xarelto (rivaroxaban).

Both products are looking to expand their licences and in April Pradaxa was recommended by European regulatory advisors for a new indication as a preventative treatment for stroke and systemic embolism in adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Bayer is also seeking to gain the same indication for its drug and is hoping for a decision from the EMA by the third quarter, having submitted Xarelto in January.

Pfizer said it too will be looking to expand Eliquis’ licence and that results from an ongoing phase III trial for AF stroke prevention – expected later this year – would form the basis of a new filing for the drug.

Ben Adams

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