Oral anticoagulation with Factor Xa and thrombin inhibitors: Is there an alternative to warfarin?

Abstract

Vitamin K antagonists (VKA), such as warfarin, have been the only available oral anticoagulants despite their many limitations. The greatest medical need is to find a replacement for warfarin for long-term therapy, particularly for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Emerging oral anticoagulants are free from many of warfarin's drawbacks and may offer a convenient alternative. Drugs in advanced development target factor Xa (rivaroxaban, apixaban) or thrombin (dabigatran etexilate). Recently, the RE-LY phase III study found dabigatran etexilate was an effective and convenient alternative to warfarin in stroke prevention for AF patients. Within the next two years, similar studies comparing rivaroxaban and apixaban versus warfarin in AF patients will become available. This paper reviews warfarin's limitations, discusses the pharmacokinetics of emerging anticoagulants in advanced development, and summarizes trials with an emphasis on head-to-head studies comparing novel anticoagulants to warfarin.