FDA for the second time rejects approval to use Johnson & Johnson blood thinner, Xarelto in treating heart patients and to prevent heart attacks.

Earlier in July 2012, FDA had denied the approval to use Xarelto on heart patients stating missing data of around 1000 patients towards the end of the study.
On tracking down the data from patients who withdrew from the study, the overall results were positive. The drug when used with other regular drugs had the efficiency to reduce the risk of death due to heart disease by 16%.
However, the risk of bleeding increased by nearly four times, which outweighed the efficacy of Xarelto in preventing heart attacks. This has greatly influenced FDA’s decision to reject the blood thinner to treat heart patients.
Source-Medindia