Content about Stroke

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration last week approved the anti-clotting drug Eliquis (apixaban), an oral tablet used to reduce the risk of stroke and dangerous blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation that is not caused by a heart valve problem. Eliquis is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb, and marketed by BMS and Pfizer.

MINNETONKA, Minn. — Some of the most commonly cited health problems affecting the elderly are hypertension, stroke and osteoporosis, but a new study highlights what researchers call an even bigger problem.

Americans ages 65 years and older said that hearing impairment affects their quality of life physically and mentally more than high blood pressure, stroke, osteoporosis, sciatica and cancer, according to the study, released Thursday by AARP Services and UnitedHealthcare.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has teamed up with the American Heart Association in a nationwide effort to improve the identification, treatment and management of high blood pressure.

According to the American Heart Association, 1-out-of-3 American adults has high blood pressure or hypertension. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure.

LEESBURG, Va. — RxAlly has created a new campaign that is designed to support the Million Hearts initiative.

RARITAN, N.J. — Drug maker Johnson & Johnson is seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a drug to treat patients with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, the company said.

J&J division Janssen Research & Development announced the submission of a supplemental new drug application for Xarelto (rivaroxaban) to the FDA for the two conditions and for preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism.

PHILADELPHIA — People who suffer from sleep disturbances are at major risk for obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease, according to new research released Thursday from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

NEW YORK and PRINCETON, N.J. — A drug designed to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation has been accepted for review by the Food and Drug Administration.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer said their investigational compound Eliquis (apixaban) was accepted for review and granted a priority-review designation. The companies submitted the application to the agency after completing two phase-3 trials, which examined the efficacy and safety of Eliquis among about 24,000 patients.

PORTLAND, Ore. — It seems that boosting high-density lipoproteins levels, also known as "good" cholesterol, can help diabetes patients reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new study conducted by Kaiser Permanente published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

WILMINGTON, Del. — A new drug made by AstraZeneca is available in pharmacies following its regulatory approval in July, the company said Monday.

AstraZeneca announced the availability of the anti-platelet drug Brilinta (ticagrelor) for reducing the rate of thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Brilinta on July 20. AstraZeneca said the drug has been shown to reduce the rates of cardiovascular death, heart attacks and stroke, compared with other drugs on the market.

WASHINGTON — California-based companies are developing nearly more than one-fifth of the drugs to treat some of the deadliest diseases in the world, according to an analysis by the drug industry lobby.

According to two Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America reports released this year, of the 1,186 drugs under development for heart disease and cancer, 243 were from California companies. These include 188-of-the-887 drugs for more than 20 types of cancer, and 55-of-the-299 drugs for heart disease and stroke.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — A drug used to prevent stroke in patients with a form of atrial fibrillation has won preferred Tier 2 formulary status with pharmacy benefit managers Medco Health Solutions and CVS Caremark.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals announced Monday that CVS Caremark and Medco had added Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate mesylate) capsules to their commercial preferred drug lists, and Medco had added the drug to its Part D drug list.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The cardiovascular drug market will turn into a difficult conquest in the years to come as it increasingly will be dominated by generics, but that isn’t stopping drug companies from continuing to develop treatments — 299 of them, according to a recent report by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America — for high cholesterol, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and other heart-related conditions.