London, April 5: A revolutionary drug, hailed as the biggest breakthrough in blood-thinning treatments in 50 years, is expected to benefit more than a million Britons to beat stroke.

Pradaxa, which is likely to cost around 2.50 pounds per person per day, is billed as safer, better and easier to take than the widely used blood thinner warfarin, reports the Daily Mail.

Trial results showed that taking Pradaxa twice daily could be up to 39 percent better at preventing strokes.

The trial involved more than 18,000 men and women with atrial fibrillation, an extremely common heart rhythm disorder that raises the risk of stroke up to five-fold.

Although the drug has been shown to be effective in these patients before, previous trials looked at only the most severely affected.

The latest results suggested that those with mild atrial fibrillation could also benefit.

Pradaxa, also known as dabigatran etexilate, could improve their health - as well as boost the quality of life for many of those who do take warfarin.

"Patients have waited a long time for an alternative to warfarin. Dabigatran etexilate has the potential not only to improve stroke prevention but also to greatly improve people's quality of life," said Trudie Lobban, chief executive of the Atrial Fibrillation Association.

Pradaxa is expected to be licensed by the European drugs regulator for use in atrial fibrillation next week.

Law must grant any UK licence within 90 days of this - making the drug available to patients by mid-July at the latest.

But with warfarin costing just 10 to 12 pounds a year, it remains to be seen whether the drug rationing body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, will judge Pradaxa as a good use of NHS cash.

The latest results were released at the American College of Cardiology's annual. (ANI)