Summary
Direct and specific inhibition of factor Xa is an emerging therapeutic strategy for
atherothrombotic disease. Parenteral factor Xa inhibitors promise efficacy comparable
to standard therapies, which could be extended to ambulatory patients with oral agents.
We evaluated the antithrombotic effect of the oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor DU-176b
in a phase-I study. Healthy subjects (n=12) received a single, 60 mg dose of DU-176b.
Antithrombotic effects were assessed by comparing ex-vivo thrombus formation at 1.5,
5, and 12 hours post-dose versus baseline, along with factor Xa activity, thrombin
generation and clotting parameters. Under venous flow after 1.5 and 5 hours, the thrombus
was 28% and 21% smaller versus baseline, respectively (p<0.05). Under arterial condition,
the reduction was 26% and 17% (p<0.05). Thrombin generation decreased by 28% at 1.5
hours and 10% at 5 hours. Changes in PT and INR correlated well with plasma drug concentrations
(R2=0.79 and 0.78). Direct and specific inhibition of factor Xa by DU-176b significantly
reduced ex-vivo thrombus formation at both venous and arterial rheologies, up to 5
hours post-dose. The effects mirrored changes in clotting parameters, suggesting their
potential usefulness for monitoring in a clinical setting.
Keywords
Atherothrombosis - clinical trials - oral anticoagulants - coagulation inhibitors
- factor X - thrombosis