A Phase III, Randomised, Multicenter, Double-blind, Parallel-group, Active Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Dabigatran Etexilate (150 mg Bid) Compared to Warfarin (INR 2.0-3.0) for the Secondary Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism.

The general aim of this study is to determine the comparative safety and efficacy of dabigatran etexilate administered orally and warfarin (International Normalized Ratio (INR) of 2.0-3.0) for the long-term treatment and secondary prevention of symptomatic venous thromboembolism in patients who have been successfully treated with standard doses of an approved anticoagulant for three to twelve months for confirmed acute symptomatic Venous Thrombo-embolism.