Bayer AG (BAYN)’s Xarelto won the backing of a European drug advisory panel for use in irregular-heartbeat patients, putting the blood thinner in line for approval in a market that may reach $9 billion in annual sales worldwide. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommended Xarelto for additional uses, the European Medicines Agency said in a statement posted on its website today that gave no details. The recommendation is for use in preventing stroke in patients with an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation, and for deep vein thrombosis, or clots in the legs or lungs, Sabine Haubenreisser, a spokeswoman for the London- based agency, said in a telephone interview.
