Bayer Corporation Rival Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation Gets EU Nod for Pradaxa Pill

Boehringer Ingelheim won European clearance for its stroke prevention pill Pradaxa, defending its lead over Bayer (BAYGn.DE) and Bristol Myers (BMY.N) in one of the most promising new classes of medicine. The EU commission cleared the 150mg dose for most patients, while the 110mg dose will be available for patients aged 80 years or above and certain risks groups, the unlisted German drugmaker said on Thursday. Pradaxa, which has been on the U.S. market since late last year, is one of three new anti-blood-clotting pills expected to replace the decades-old, and potentially dangerous, stroke preventer warfarin. Analysts estimate the total annual market for such oral drugs as high as $20 billion.