Dabigatran: A Revolutionary Blood-Thinning Drug
Over two million Americans suffer from an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation, putting them at increased risk for strokes. For decades, doctors have had just one blood-thinning medication to help these patients. But the FDA has just approved a revolutionary new drug.
Hernan Guarderas, 68, is hoping a new blood thinner will give him back his old life. It's called dabigatran, reports CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook.
"With this new medicine, I would be free," Guarderas told CBS.
Guarderas has a condition called atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat. He has been taking the common blood thinner Warfarin to prevent a stroke.
But the drug forces him to restrict his diet, increases his bleeding and requires close monitoring.
"I was for almost two years, every week at the doctor's office taking my blood," said Guarderas.
This new drug does not require monitoring. It's also easy to stop if the patient needs surgery.
"The cardiology community has been waiting for years to have a replacement for Warfarin," said cardiologist Dr. William Borden.
A study of more than 18,000 patients found that dabigatran - available in two strengths - prevents more strokes or causes less bleeding, depending on the dose. The most common side effect was intestinal upset.
It seems like this could really be a revolution in how we treat patients with atrial fibrillation," said Dr. Borden.
This drug will be more expensive than Warfarin. Another concern: there were more heart attacks in patients taking dabigatran.
"Although there was an increased risk of heart attacks in the study, I think our worry clinically is more about strokes - and so that will probably not be a big factor in deciding which of these two blood thinners to use," said Dr. Christopher Cannon of Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Dabigatran will be sold under the brand name Pradaxa. Analysts are predicting the drug will be a blockbuster, with sales reaching an estimated $2.5 billion annually by 2020.