Anticoagulants

Warfarin / Coumadin

(PJVWKTKQMONHTI-UHFFFAOYSA-N)

Apixaban (QNZCBYKSOIHPEH-UHFFFAOYSA-N)

There has been a flurry of articles on the development of a new generation of anticoagulants. An Article in the New York Times of August 30th provides an interest account of the development of a new generation of anticoagulants. Warfarin (Coumadin) has a number of limitations due to the careful dosing required. Problems are compounded when the patients are taking other medicines as well. The medical and financial potential of warfarin alternatives has been one of the hot topics at the recent international cardiology conference in Stockholm. Two alternative compounds oral factor Xa inhibitors are emerging as potential replacements for Warfarin: Apixaban from BMS / Pfizer and Rivaroxaban/ Xarelto. Rivaroxaban is being jointly developed by Bayer and Johnson & Johnson as a new oral anticoagulant. Rivaroxaban is indicated for the primary prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following orthopaedic surgery. Clinical trials are also ongoing to evaluate Xarelto (rivaroxaban) for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome. Apixaban is being studied to determine its efficacy in atrial fibrillation and to prevent blood clots in the leg (deep vein thrombosis [DVT]) and lung (pulmonary embolism [PE]) that sometimes occur within patients hospitalized for acute medical illness, and to learn how apixaban compares to enoxaparin (Lovenox®) for preventing these clots. Another anticoagulant Pradaxa is being developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. Pradaxa prevented more strokes and clots than warfarin without hiking the risk of serious bleeding. Pradaxa is a direct thrombin inhibitor.  

Rivaroxaban/ Xarelto
KGFYHTZWPPHNLQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Pradaxa / Dabigatran/ BIBR 953
KSGXQBZTULBEEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N