Daiichi Sankyo starts trial of investigational factor Xa inhibitor for atrial fibrillation

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, has announced that it has initiated its pivotal Phase III trial for DU-176b, an investigational oral Factor Xa inhibitor, in patients with atrial fibrillation. DU-176b is being developed solely by Daiichi Sankyo.

The Phase III global study, Effective Anticoagulation with Factor Xa Next Generation in Atrial Fibrillation (ENGAGE-AF TIMI 48), will compare DU-176b with warfarin in preventing stroke and systemic embolic events (SEE) in patients with atrial fibrillation. The primary safety assessment will be the incidence of bleeding.

Results from a recently presented Phase II safety study showed that the incidence of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding events reported in the once-daily DU-176b treatment groups (30 mg or 60 mg) was similar to that in the warfarin-treated patient group. The incidence of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding events was significantly higher in the twice-daily DU-176b treatment groups (30 mg or 60 mg), compared to the warfarin group. The Phase III study will therefore randomize approximately 16,500 patients to one of three treatment groups: 30 mg DU-176b once daily, 60 mg DU-176b once daily, or warfarin. Those randomized to warfarin will be dosed once daily with dose adjustments to maintain International Normalized Ratio (INR) between 2.0 and 3.0.

This is an event-driven, Phase III, multinational, randomized, double-blind study with sites in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The expected median treatment duration of the study is 24 months; Daiichi Sankyo expects the study to conclude in the first half of 2012.

"There is a need for a safe and effective option for the prevention of clotting or stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation other than the current standard of care, warfarin, which requires extensive monitoring and poses potentially serious drug and food interactions," said John Alexander, M.D., M.P.H., global head of research and development, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited. "The start of our Phase III trial marks an important milestone in the clinical development of DU-176b and we hope this compound will prove to be another successful treatment in our cardiovascular portfolio."

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heartbeat caused when the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat inconsistently and rapidly. When this happens, blood can become stagnant near the walls of the atria and form blood clots. These blood clots can break off and travel through the blood stream to the brain where they can block blood vessels possibly causing a stroke. These clots can also cause damage to other organs in the body by blocking peripheral arteries.

About 90,000 strokes in the U.S. are caused by atrial fibrillation. Patients with atrial fibrillation have five times higher risk of having a stroke. These patients also tend to have more serious first strokes than patients without atrial fibrillation, resulting in higher mortality rates and longer hospital stays.

DU-176b is an oral anticoagulant that directly inhibits Factor Xa, a clotting factor in the blood. Daiichi Sankyo is developing DU-176b as a potential new treatment for the prevention of both arterial and venous thromboembolism. Notably, Daiichi Sankyo has more than 25 years experience conducting research in the area of Factor Xa inhibition and was the first company to test these compounds in humans.

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