CardioExchange Archive

July 1st, 2013

New Anticoagulant Found Safe and Effective in Acute Venous Thromboembolism

Larry Husten, PHD

In a large clinical trial the new oral anticoagulant apixaban (Eliquis, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb) was at least as effective as standard therapy and caused fewer bleeding complications in patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE). The results of the AMPLIFY (Apixaban for the Initial Management of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep-Vein Thrombosis as First-Line Therapy) trial are being presented today at […]

---

May 24th, 2013

Rivaroxaban Gains Approval in Europe for ACS Indication

Larry Husten, PHD

Rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Bayer) has been approved in Europe for the prevention of atherothrombotic events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The drug was approved at a dose of 2.5 mg twice-daily and should be used in combination with standard antiplatelet therapy. Rivaroxaban is now the only oral anticoagulant to receive […]

---

February 20th, 2013

New Studies Examine Prolonged Anticoagulation for VTE Recurrence

Larry Husten, PHD

Three studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine provide important new information about the risks and benefits of extended prophylaxis using two of the new oral anticoagulants in patients who have had venous thromboembolism (VTE). In the RE-MEDY and the RE-SONATE trials, the role of dabigatran was examined in patients who had completed at least 3 months […]

---

February 8th, 2013

Xarelto Effective in Medically Ill Patients, But at High Bleeding Cost

Larry Husten, PHD

The recent arrival of novel oral anticoagulants has provided important new options for treating and preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE). New indications for these drugs have been granted for patients with atrial fibrillation and for patients who have undergone orthopedic surgery. But an additional indication, for acutely ill medical patients at risk for VTE, does not […]

---

December 10th, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: December 10th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include a comparison of warfarin and new oral anticoagulants for managing AF and VTE, two studies of a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 in patients with hypercholesterolemia, and more.

---

November 26th, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: November 26th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include fish oil and postoperative AF, low-dose aspirin for preventing recurrent VTE, a long-term comparison of endovascular and open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, and more.

---

November 15th, 2012

In Acute VTE, Novel Oral Anticoagulants and Conventional Therapy Show Similar Efficacy

Nicholas Downing, MD

Novel oral anticoagulants and vitamin K antagonists offer similar protection against venous thromboembolism recurrence, according to a BMJ meta-analysis. However, one of the newer agents, rivaroxaban, seems to offer better protection against bleeding. The analysis included nine randomized controlled trials comparing apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or ximelagatran (no longer on the market) with traditional vitamin K antagonists […]

---

October 8th, 2012

Triple Antithrombotic Therapy: What — and When — Is the Bleeding Risk?

Morten Lamberts, MD and John Ryan, MD

Morten Lamberts, MD, lead investigator of a recent registry study of various combinations of antithrombotic agents in patients with AF and CAD, answers John Ryan’s questions about the study and its implications.

---

September 27th, 2012

FDA Sets New Decision Date for Eliquis (Apixaban)

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA  will decide the fate of apixaban (Eliquis) by March 17, 2013. The new Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date was announced yesterday by the drug’s manufacturers, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb. The new drug application (NDA) for apixaban for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation has been delayed twice. Although the pivotal ARISTOTLE trial was highly praised when […]

---

September 24th, 2012

‘Dramatic’ Increase in Bleeding Accompanies Addition of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy in ACS

Larry Husten, PHD

The newer oral anticoagulants may help reduce ischemic events after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but only at the cost of a “dramatic” increase in bleeding complications, according to a new meta-analysis published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Hungarian researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of seven trials in which 31,286 ACS patients were […]

---