By Ben Hirschler

LONDON (Reuters) - Bayer AG's BAYG.DE experimental anticoagulant Xarelto, its biggest new drug hope, has been recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency, lifting the German company's shares 4 percent.

The drugs watchdog said on Friday its Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) had backed Xarelto for the prevention of blood clots after hip or knee surgery.

Recommendations for marketing approval by the CHMP are normally endorsed by the European Commission within a couple of months.

Bayer, which estimates eventual global peak sales of the drug could reach 2 billion euros ($3.14 billion) for all indications, said it was particularly pleased by the speedy positive opinion.

"We received it only nine months after the submission -- very fast compared to average," said Kemal Malik, member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee, responsible for product development.

Shares in the German drugs and chemicals group were up 4 percent at 56.15 euros by 1426 GMT, as investors welcomed the green light, which reinforces Bayer's reputation for having a promising new drug pipeline.

Bayer had previously said it expected Xarelto to go on sale in Europe by the end of the year.

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