Japan-based Daiichi Sankyo has received marketing approval by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for its anticoagulant edoxaban, according to Pharma Times.  

Edoxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor taken once a day has been approved for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with total knee and hip arthroplasty and hip fracture surgery.  It will be sold as Lixiana.

Joji Nakayama, Daiichi Sankyo chief executive, said the company thinks the drug “will make a great contribution to VTE prevention after major orthopedic surgery,” noting that Daiichi Sankyo is researching options for the drug for “several other indications.”