NICE Recommends Xarelto for Prevention of Atherothrombosis

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Xarelto (rivaroxaban) for preventing atherothrombotic events, such as plaque disruption and blood clots, in adult patients with either coronary artery disease or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.

The institute based the recommendation on the results of a clinical trial that showed rivaroxaban plus aspirin reduces the risk of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction or death from cardiovascular disease.

The blood thinner increases the patient’s risk of bleeding, so the institute endorsed the medicine in patients with a high risk of atherothrombotic events as long as they are not at an increased risk for bleeding.