Potent arterial antithrombotic effect of direct factor-Xa inhibition with ZK-807834 administered to coronary artery disease patients.

It was the objective of this study to evaluate the anti-thrombotic potency of direct factor-Xa inhibition with ZK-807834 in stable coronary patients, using an ex-vivo model of arterial thrombus formation. Tissue factor pathway is important in atherothrombosis. Direct factor-Xa blockade may more potently reduce thrombosis and prevent coronary events. Badimon Perfusion Chamber 5-minute quantitative studies have shown 40-55% arterial thrombus reduction with abciximab, 23% with clopidogrel, but none with heparin. Coronary patients (n = 18, 59 +/- 9 years, 55% males) were blindly randomized to four groups receiving 24-hour infusion of a low, medium or high dose of direct factor- Xa inhibitor ZK-807834, or placebo. Arterial thrombus formation was measured in Badimon Chamber at baseline, end-of-infusion [EoI], and four hours and eight hours after EoI, and factor-X activity, prothrombin time [PT] ratio and plasma drug levels were measured simultaneously. For the low-, medium- and high-dose ZK-807834 groups, mean percent-reduction in thrombus size from baseline to EoI were 29%, 34% and 68%, respectively (p < 0.001), and at 8-h post EoI were 11%, 19% and 27%, respectively (p < 0.01). Mean PT-ratio prolongation showed a strong linear relationship (Pearson's r = 0.93) with ZK-807834 plasma concentration. Mean percent-reduction in factor-X activity from baseline was 13%, 42% and 58%, respectively. Placebo had no effect on thrombus size or factor-X activity. In conclusion, direct factor-Xa inhibition with ZK-807834 markedly reduces ex-vivo arterial thrombus formation and factor-X activity in a dose-dependent manner. Plasma levels of ZK-807834 show a strong linear correlation with PT ratio. This direct factor-Xa inhibitor may reduce the need for additional potent glycoprotein IIbIIIa inhibition.