Rivaroxaban for reducing the risk of major thrombotic vascular events in symptomatic peripheral arterial disease patients with a recent lower extremity revascularisation procedure

Rivaroxaban is in clinical development for reducing the risk of major thrombotic vascular events in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) who have undergone a recent lower extremity revascularisation procedure. PAD is a common condition in which a build-up of fatty deposit in the arteries (atherosclerosis) reduces blood supply to the limbs. Many people with PAD have no symptoms but some people develop pain in their legs which may require surgery (revascularisation). People with PAD that undergo this procedure have significantly increased risks of major thrombotic vascular events like heart attack and stroke.
Rivaroxaban is an already approved oral medicine used for the prevention of thrombotic vascular events in different types of artery diseases including PAD. It acts by blocking specific pathways involved in the process of blood clots within blood vessels, reducing the risk of a major vascular event. Aspirin alone is the current standard treatment in patients with PAD undergoing revascularization procedures but its risk reduction may not be adequate. If licensed rivaroxaban will potentially be an option as an add-on therapy in this patient group.