Bayer's Asundexian drug reduces stroke risk by 26% in study

Bayer AG's experimental drug cut the risk of secondary strokes without increasing serious bleeding in a late-stage trial, bolstering its prospects of driving growth for the German company as it faces pressure from generic competition.

Asundexian reduced the chance of another stroke by 26% compared with placebo, when added to standard antiplatelet therapy such as Aspirin, Bayer said Thursday. The data adds to results released in November, and the company plans to submit the findings to regulators for approval.

Bayer shares rose as much as 3.2% in early Frankfurt trading, extending the 111% rally through Thursday's close over the last twelve months.


The results are "as good as it gets," Bank of America analysts said in a note, adding that it supports their expectation of ?3 billion ($3.5 billion) annual peak sales for the drug.

The drug is part of Bayer's push to offset generic competition for its top-sellers including blood thinner Xarelto and eye medicine Eylea. Asundexian previously failed to show enough benefit in an erratic heart beat known as atrial fibrillation, but Bayer saw blockbuster potential as a stroke treatment.

About one in five stroke survivors suffers another episode within five years, according to Bayer.