Apix of the litter

Eliquis apixaban is first of the new wave of oral anticoagulants to demonstrate superiority to warfarin on both efficacy and safety, according to topline results from the Phase III ARISTOTLE trial to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation patients. But it won't be clear if Eliquis is best-in-class until partners Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Inc. unveil detailed data at the European Society of Cardiology Congress meeting in August.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) leads to blood pooling in the heart and significantly elevates the risk of stroke. Therapy typically involves long-term use of an anticoagulant like the vitamin K antagonist warfarin or an antiplatelet drug such as aspirin...