Can a Low-Dose blood thinner keep clots away?

NCT ID NCT04168203

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looked at whether a low dose of the blood thinner apixaban (2.5 mg twice daily for 12 months) can safely prevent blood clots from returning in people who already had a clot triggered by a temporary risk factor. 600 high-risk adults took either apixaban or a placebo. The goal was to see if the drug reduces clot recurrence without causing major bleeding.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: apixaban (low-dose, 2.5 mg twice daily)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that a lower dose of apixaban taken for a year safely reduces the chance of another blood clot in high-risk patients.
What could go wrong: This is a single-center, Phase 4 trial with 600 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The lower dose may not prevent clots as well as standard therapy, and bleeding risk remains.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

pulmonary embolism venous thromboembolism Venous Thrombosis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS PULMONARY EMBOLISM VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM

Contacts and locations

Locations

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

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