Apixaban (APB)

Apixaban is an anticoagulant for the prevention of venous thromboembolism and venous thromboembolic events. It is a direct factor Xa inhibitor. Apixaban has been available in Europe since May 2011 and was approved for preventing venous thromboembolism after elective hip or knee replacement. Apixaban is a factor Xa inhibitor (anticoagulant) indicated to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. A systematic review of new anticoagulants states the treatment benefits of apixaban and other new anticoagulants compared with warfarin are small and vary depending on the control achieved by warfarin treatment.[6] Patients already taking warfarin with excellent international normalized ratio (INR) control may have little to gain by switching to new oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation.