Rivaroxaban Cleared in US July 1, 2011

As reported in Theheart,org, The United States Food and Drug Administration announced clearance on July 1, 2011 of rivaroxaban, (Xarelto), the first oral direct anti-Xa anticoagulant. Xarelto, to be marketed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc, is cleared for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in patients with total hip replacement or total knee replacement surgery. This is the second in the family of new oral anticoagulants to be approved for use in the USA, as dabigatran (Pradaxa) was cleared earlier in 2011 for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.