According to a new study of a heart drug, rivaroxaban, from Johnson & Johnson and Bayer AG, it has been revealed that the drug prevents the clots but raises the bleeding risk in the study.

The drug rivaroxaban has been available under the brand Xarelto since 2008, in Europe. The drug is available for the prevention of clots in people who are undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery.

Many companies have urged the extension of the drug’s availability in the US. The drug helps in preventing strokes in people with heart-rhythm disorder.

According to the results presented by the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Cardiology in New Orleans, patients who received rivoarxoaban faced bleeding at double level from other comparison groups.

Alexander Cohen, Vascular Physician at King's College Hospital in London and lead author of the study said that the overall bleed rates are low but patients who were given rivoarxoaban had more bleeding. He added that the benefit-risk balance was not noticed favoring the drug.

The companies who have asked for its extension in US are expecting the approval for the drug which will exceed its sale by $2 billion worldwide.