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Updated: May 28, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Apixaban: first global approval
Julia Watson1, Glen Whiteside, Caroline Perry
1RD Insight, Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Apixaban (Eliquis™), an oral direct factor Xa inhibitor, is being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer as a therapy for the prevention and/or treatment of thrombotic disorders. Apixaban has been approved in the EU for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hip or knee replacement. A rolling submission for approval of apixaban for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation has also been initiated in the US. Worldwide phase III development of apixaban is underway for the prevention and treatment of VTE, and prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Development for acute coronary syndromes has been stopped following the discontinuation of the phase III APPRAISE-II trial. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of apixaban leading to this first approval for the prevention of VTE after hip or knee replacement.
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