Investigational factor Xa inhibitors for thrombosis and acute coronary syndromes

Abstract

Introduction: A number of new oral anticoagulant drugs that selectively and directly inhibit factor Xa (FXa) appear as promising alternatives to the existing anticoagulant agents. These compounds present a convenient route of administration with predictable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics that allow fixed dosing regimens without requiring coagulation monitoring. Rivaroxaban is the first of this new class of drugs that was approved for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after elective total hip replacement or total knee replacement surgery in the EU, Canada and several other countries. Clinical trials with rivaroxaban in patients with acute VTE and in patients with atrial fibrillation have been recently completed. Numerous other compounds are under different developing stages (apixaban, edoxaban, otamixaban, LY517717, PRT-054021, YM150).

Areas covered: This review provides an overview of the two oral anti-FXa drugs at the most advanced stage of development (rivaroxaban and apixaban) and briefly describes and comments on the results of the most important studies.

Expert opinion: Undoubtedly, these new drugs will offer several advantages over the previous compounds, but a number of issues still require some attention during the phase of translation from clinical trials into daily clinical practice.

Keywords::

• acute coronary syndromes
• apixaban
• atrial fibrillation
• oral anticoagulants
• rivaroxaban
• venous thromboembolism

Notes

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