A new era for patients with atrial fibrillation - dabigatran etexilate at the forefront.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) issued revised practice guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF), including guidance on the role of a novel oral treatment, dabigatran etexilate, for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). At the same time, Boehringer Ingelheim confirms that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a priority review designation for Boehringer Ingelheim's novel oral direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate for the prevention of stroke in AF. A priority review designation is given to new drugs that are expected to offer major advances in treatment, or provide a treatment where no …