ELIMINATE-AF study will explore the safety and efficacy of edoxaban (Lixiana/ Savaysa) versus a vitamin K antagonist in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing catheter ablation.-Daiichi Sankyo

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited announced that the first patient has been enrolled into the ELIMINATE-AF study. The multinational, randomized phase IIIb study will explore the safety and efficacy of the company�s oral, once-daily direct factor Xa-inhibitor edoxaban (known by the brand name LIXIANA outside the US and SAVAYSA in the US) against a vitamin K antagonist in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing catheter ablation.

The study will investigate the incidence of the composite of all-cause death, stroke and major bleeding (International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis [ISTH] definition). Approximately 560 patients will be enrolled in ELIMINATE-AF from 75 clinical sites across Europe, Canada and Asia. "Catheter ablation as a method of treating AF is more frequently performed in clinical practice due to its positive effect on AF-related symptoms and quality of life; however, it is associated with a significant thromboembolic risk during and shortly after the procedure said Stefan Hohnloser, MD, Professor of Medicine and Cardiology, Head, Department of Electrophysiology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and principal study investigator. �ELIMINATE-AF will provide insights into the use of edoxaban for uninterrupted anticoagulation in patients undergoing catheter ablation, applying state of-the-art treatment in accordance with the recent treatment guidelines. In this study, edoxaban will be used with the approved dosage regimen for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.