A New Factor Xa Inhibitor Prepares for Its Close-Up

Otamixaban shows promise in patients with ACS, but do we really need another intravenous anticoagulant?

Otamixaban is a new, direct-acting, intravenous factor Xa inhibitor with a rapid onset of action and a short (30-minute) half-life. It produces a predictable anticoagulant effect, eliminating the need for routine coagulation monitoring. In this international, manufacturer-sponsored, phase II randomized study, investigators compared five doses of otamixaban with the combination of unfractionated heparin (UFH) and eptifibatide (active comparator) in 3241 patients with non–ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndromes. Most participants received aspirin and clopidogrel (98%), had coronary angiography (99%), and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (63%).

At 7 days, rates of the primary endpoint (death, MI, urgent revascularization, or b…

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)