New Drug Application Submitted to FDA for Rivaroxaban for Prevention of Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Raritan, NJ – Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD) announced today that it has submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for rivaroxaban, an investigational, oral, once-daily anticoagulant, for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

The submission is supported by data from the pivotal, global Phase 3 ROCKET AF (Rivaroxaban Once daily oral direct Factor Xa inhibition Compared with vitamin K antagonism for prevention of stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation) trial.

AF is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disorder, affecting more than 2.3 million people in the U.S. In patients with AF, the heart’s irregular beat makes them vulnerable to the formation of blood clots in the atria, which can travel to the brain, potentially resulting in a stroke. Strokes can lead to major physical and behavioral impairments, or even death. People living with AF are at a five-fold increased risk for stroke compared with the general population, and almost one-third will suffer from a stroke in their lifetimes.

J&JPRD also announced today that it has submitted its complete response to the FDA seeking approval to use rivaroxaban for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients undergoing total hip or total knee replacement surgery. The submission includes specific information requested by the FDA in a complete response letter issued to J&JPRD on May 28, 2009, and is primarily supported by data from the pivotal, global Phase 3 RECORD (REgulation of Coagulation in major Orthopedic surgery reducing the Risk of DVT and PE) clinical trial program.

More information about the rivaroxaban clinical development program, and the diseases for which it is being developed, may be accessed at http://www.jnjpharmarnd.com/jnjpharmarnd/rivaroxaban.html.


About Rivaroxaban
Rivaroxaban is a novel oral anticoagulant being evaluated for the prevention and treatment of a broad range of disorders in which blood clotting plays a major role. In clinical studies, the compound has shown no requirement for routine laboratory coagulation monitoring, and limited risk for food and drug interactions. The extensive program of clinical trials evaluating this compound makes rivaroxaban the most studied oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor in the world today. By the time of its completion, more than 65,000 patients will have participated in the rivaroxaban clinical development program. Rivaroxaban is being developed jointly by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C., which is part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, and Bayer HealthCare AG.


Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.
Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, the world’s most broadly based producer of health care products. J&JPRD is headquartered in Raritan, N.J., and has facilities throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. J&JPRD is actively involved in drug discovery and development within a variety of therapeutic areas, including Cardiovascular and Metabolism, Central Nervous System, Immunology, Oncology and Virology, to address unmet medical needs worldwide.