Astellas Pharma Inc. Halts Development of Anti-Clotting Drug

Japan's Astellas Pharma said it halted the global development of the experimental anti-clotting drug darexaban maleate, or YM150, after a study raised questions about its role in treating patients with heart problems. The drugmaker said in a statement on Wednesday that it stopped development of the new oral anticoagulant amid increasing competition and after it was unable to find a partner to help it develop the treatment. A midstage clinical study showed earlier this year that the treatment increased bleeding two- to four-fold in patients with acute coronary problems.

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