Abstract
Unfractionated heparin (UFH) and the vitamin K antagonists (VKA), have been standard anticoagulants for the last 70 years. They have a widespread effect on many coagulation factors, the serine proteases for UFH and the vitamin K dependent factors for the VKAs. Refinements in the heparin molecule have occurred with the development of low molecular weight heparins and eventually, fondaparinux, the latter of which, has only indirect anti-Xa activity. In the last two decades, more target-specific drugs such as the parenteral direct thrombin inhibitors have been introduced into clinical practice (lepirudin, bivalirudin, argatroban, and desirudin) and are widely used for selected indications in hospitalized patients. More recently, the trend in anticoagulant development continues to target a specific factor either directly or indirectly. Of great interest is the recent development of many oral direct factor inhibitors, the first new agents poised to replace the VKAs. Of these, the oral direct Xa and IIa inhibitors are most promising and are far along in development. However, other coagulation factors have been considered suitable targets for drug development. The following paper discusses these agents and their selected targets, heparin.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.