Use of PER977 to Reverse the Anticoagulant Effect of Edoxaban

New England Journal of Medicine

In double-blind, placebo-controlled dose escalation trial in 80 healthy people given 60mg edoxaban, baseline haemostasis was restored from anticoagulated state in 10-30 minutes after administration of 100-300 mg of PER977 and was sustained for 24 hours. Phase 2 studies underway.

Costs and Benefits of Antithrombotic Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation in England: An Economic Analysis based on GRASP-AF

NHS Improving Quality

53.6% suitable patients (pts) in England are on anticoagulants. If warfarin prescribed for all of above with CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2, further 11,600 AF-related CVAs would be averted/year, with additional 1500 excess bleeds, and decrease in number of deaths in AF pts over 1-year by 3500.

Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease With Vorapaxar: A New Era of 3-Drug Antiplatelet Therapy?

JAMA Internal Medicine

The authors of this viewpoint article discuss the risks and benefits of vorapaxar and conclude that although it has a potential role in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, they remain sceptical of its widespread use as part of a 3-drug antiplatelet regimen.

Medicines Evidence Commentary : Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of venous thromboembolism

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies found that there was a statistically significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among users of NSAIDs compared to non-users of NSAIDs. However, the meta-analysis has a number of important limitations.

Oral anticoagulation therapy after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation and the risk of thromboembolism and serious bleeding: long-term follow-up in nationwide cohort of Denmark

European Heart Journal

This study reports a relatively low risk of VTE beyond 3 months after radiofrequency ablation for AF. The authors suggest the risk of bleeding with oral anticoagulation may outweigh benefits in this setting, but randomised studies are required to confirm their findings.

Risk of Bleeding With Dabigatran in Atrial Fibrillation

JAMA Internal Medicine

This analysis of Medicare patients who started warfarin (n=8102) or dabigatran (n=1302) within 60 days of AF diagnosis reports that dabigatran was associated with a higher risk of overall, major and GI bleeding (HR 1.30, 1.58 and 1.85 v warfarin) but lower risk of ICH (HR 0.32).

European Medicines Agency accepts Marketing Authorisation Application for ELOCTA™ (rFVIIIFc) for haemophilia A

Biospace Inc.

The EMA has validated an application seeking approval of Elocta™, a recombinant factor VIII Fc fusion protein product candidate for the treatment of haemophilia A. The application includes results from the A-LONG and Kids A-LONG Phase III studies.

The above records have been identified by UKMi and feature in the NICE Medicines Awareness Service. Further details on this service can be found at:
http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/about-evidence-services/content-and-sources/medicines-information/new-medicines-awareness-services