Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Medical Patients

Patients hospitalized with acute medical illnesses are at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but whether the risk persists following discharge is uncertain. Now, investigators have conducted an industry-supported, phase III, multinational, randomized, double-blind trial in this setting to determine the safety and effectiveness of extended prophylaxis with betrixaban, a new oral anticoagulant that inhibits factor Xa, achieves a maximum concentration 3 to 4 hours after ingestion, and has a half-life of 19 to 25 hours.

A total of 7513 patients hospitalized with acute medical illnesses received either standard subcutaneous enoxaparin for 10±4 days followed by placebo for 35 to 42 days or placebo for 10±4 days followed by betrixaban for 35 to…