Eliquis now has the unique distinction of being the only new anticoagulant to reduce stroke, major bleeding, and death versus the gold standard warfarin in atrial fibrillation patients (the largest commercial opportunity, in our view).

FORBES: Analyst Says Xarelto Niche "Still Secure"

Rather than testing Xarelto against warfarin, the current standard in oral anti-coagulants, Xarelto was studied against placebo.

FORBES: Why Xarelto for ACS was doomed to fail

The giant trial showed that was somewhat better than the standard drug warfarin in preventing strokes, at least among those who stayed on the drugs during the whole trial period.

FORBES: JNJ's Solid Win

Eliquis was the first anti-coagulant to prove that it reduced the risk of death compared to warfarin, which has been the standard of care for preventing strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, for seven decades.

FORBES: The Best Big Drug Company Of 2011