Study: Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb drug for internal blood clots not superior to enoxaparin

NEW YORK — A drug under development by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb for preventing internal blood clots failed to show superiority over a treatment already on the market, the companies said Monday.

The two drug makers announced Monday results of the phase-3 "ADOPT" study, which was designed to compare the safety and effectiveness of Eliquis (apixaban) with enoxaparin in preventing venous thromboembolism in patients with acute medical illness. Sanofi sells enoxaparin under the brand name Lovenox, and it is available as a generic.

Pfizer and Bristol said Eliquis did not show superiority over enoxaparin in preventing VTE, and while patients taking apixaban showed a 13% lower rate of adverse side effects than patients taking enoxaparin followed by placebo, that result was not statistically significant.

The drug is approved in the European Union for preventing VTE in adults who have undergone total hip or knee-replacement surgery.