FDA OKs expanded uses for Xarelto blood thinner

NEW YORK -- Johnson & Johnson's Xarelto received an expanded indication as the Food and Drug Administration approved the blood thinner to treat and prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Xarelto already is approved for three uses: for reducing risk of blood clots in people who've had knee replacement surgery or hip replacement surgery and for reducing stroke risk in people with a common irregular heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation, not caused by a heart valve problem.

The New Brunswick, N.J., company markets Xarelto, or rivaroxaban, jointly with Bayer Healthcare.