Study: Bristol's apixaban effective among atrial fibrillation patients

NEW YORK — An investigational drug made by Bristol-Myers Squibb works better than aspirin in reducing the risk of complications in certain patients with heart rhythm problems, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Bristol said results of the phase-3 study comparing apixaban with aspirin showed that in patients with atrial fibrillation who were not suited to take the drug warfarin, apixaban was more effective than aspirin in reducing stroke and systemic embolism.

The investigational drug also was more effective than aspirin in reducing the composite of stroke, systemic embolism, heart attack and vascular death in atrial fibrillation patients.