Apixaban for oral antithrombotic therapy: is a new era coming?

Apixaban, a new oral inhibitor of activated factor Xa, may simplify antithrombotic therapy with fixed doses and no necessity for coagulation monitoring. Apixaban is non-inferior to conventional therapy (enxoaparin, followed by warfarin) with lower risk of major bleeding in the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism. Compared with placebo, extended treatment with apixaban may reduce the recurrence rate in patients with venous thromboembolism. Thromboprophylaxis therapy with apixaban in surgery (hip or knee replacement) and atrial fibrillation has been proved to be superior to warfarin or enxoaparin. Apixaban offers a convenient and more effective alternative choice in anticoagulant therapy.