Another stroke-prevention medication in the works?

Blood-thinning medication can be tricky - bruising and other side effects. But they can also prevent strokes and death.

So some news from The New York Times the other day - European Drug Watchdog Supports New Pill by Bayer - indicates that another stroke prevention tool might become available for certain patients.

Outside Europe, regulatory filings for Xarelto have been submitted in more than 10 countries, including Canada and China. It is expected to be submitted for approval soon in the United States, where it will be marketed by Bayer’s partner Johnson & Johnson.
Although the initial use of Xarelto will be in preventing blood clots after hip- and knee-replacement surgery, the big commercial potential lies in using it to prevent strokes in people with atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia.
The medicine, which is also known by the generic name rivaroxaban, is taken as a single tablet, once daily.

Worth watching for future developments.

(Image from National Library of Medicine)