Experimental and clinical pharmacology: New oral anticoagulant drugs - mechanisms of action

Abstract

In 2008, two new oral anticoagulant drugs were registered in Australia for the prevention of venous thrombosis after elective knee or hip replacement. rivaroxaban is a direct reversible competitive antagonist of activated factor X. dabigatran etexilate is a direct reversible competitive antagonist of thrombin. Both drugs are effective anticoagulants which offer potential advantages over heparin and warfarin.