LUVMyBirman
Well-known member
New Pill Looks Promising for Blood Clots
By EMMA ROSS
.c The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - A new blood-thinning pill seems to work at least as well as the standard treatments for warding off blood clots, but kicks in more quickly and could be safer and easier to take, research indicates.
Scientists who were presented with the evidence at a medical conference this week in Paris said Wednesday that the new drug, Exanta, could dramatically improve the quality of life of millions of people.
It would be the first anti-clotting pill of its type to emerge since warfarin, also known as Coumadin, was introduced more than 50 years ago.
The research, presented at a meeting of the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, showed the drug prevented blood clots in the legs of people undergoing hip or knee surgery just as successfully as warfarin or injectable drugs, known as low molecular weight heparins. People undergoing such surgery have the highest risk of developing a potentially fatal clot.
Dr. Sylvia Haas, a blood clotting expert who was not connected with the research, said the results showed the new drug appears to overcome the shortcomings of the current medicines.
``I'm really fascinated by what has been achieved,'' said Haas, head of thrombosis research at the Technical University in Munich, Germany. She was involved in the development of injectable heparins. ``It's premature to discuss whether this could save lives, but there will certainly be a lot of improvement in the quality of life for the patients.''
The main gripes with warfarin are that its performance is influenced by food containing vitamin K and by other drugs, and that it is difficult to get the dose right. Patients must have regular blood tests to monitor their blood and must adjust the dose accordingly. Too much of the drug can cause dangerous bleeding.
Also, Coumadin takes some time to work.
For that reason, doctors often also use the injectable heparins, which takes effect immediately.
Although low molecular weight heparins do not require blood thickness monitoring, they are injected into the belly, which can be inconvenient. They also increase the risk of osteoporosis.
The new drug is not affected by food and patients using it don't require injections or regular monitoring of blood thickness.
Dr. David Myerson, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University and an American Heart Association spokesman, said he was encouraged by the findings but that there is more to prove before the drug should be widely used.
If it proves successful for other conditions, such as irregular heart beat, stroke or artificial heart valves, its wide applicability would be ``striking,'' he said.
Exanta, made by AstraZeneca, intervenes in the blood clotting process at a later stage than Coumadin or heparin. Doctors can also give a broader dose range without creating bleeding problems.
The latest research consisted of two studies. One compared Exanta to Coumadin in 680 knee replacement patients in Canada and the United States. The other pitted the drug against low molecular weight heparins in 2,788 Europeans getting new hips or knees.
Experts say Exanta could become available within a year. They envision it being used in combination with blood thinners that attack clots from a different angle, such as aspirin or Plavix. It is not designed to replace such medicines, scientists said.
By EMMA ROSS
.c The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - A new blood-thinning pill seems to work at least as well as the standard treatments for warding off blood clots, but kicks in more quickly and could be safer and easier to take, research indicates.
Scientists who were presented with the evidence at a medical conference this week in Paris said Wednesday that the new drug, Exanta, could dramatically improve the quality of life of millions of people.
It would be the first anti-clotting pill of its type to emerge since warfarin, also known as Coumadin, was introduced more than 50 years ago.
The research, presented at a meeting of the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, showed the drug prevented blood clots in the legs of people undergoing hip or knee surgery just as successfully as warfarin or injectable drugs, known as low molecular weight heparins. People undergoing such surgery have the highest risk of developing a potentially fatal clot.
Dr. Sylvia Haas, a blood clotting expert who was not connected with the research, said the results showed the new drug appears to overcome the shortcomings of the current medicines.
``I'm really fascinated by what has been achieved,'' said Haas, head of thrombosis research at the Technical University in Munich, Germany. She was involved in the development of injectable heparins. ``It's premature to discuss whether this could save lives, but there will certainly be a lot of improvement in the quality of life for the patients.''
The main gripes with warfarin are that its performance is influenced by food containing vitamin K and by other drugs, and that it is difficult to get the dose right. Patients must have regular blood tests to monitor their blood and must adjust the dose accordingly. Too much of the drug can cause dangerous bleeding.
Also, Coumadin takes some time to work.
For that reason, doctors often also use the injectable heparins, which takes effect immediately.
Although low molecular weight heparins do not require blood thickness monitoring, they are injected into the belly, which can be inconvenient. They also increase the risk of osteoporosis.
The new drug is not affected by food and patients using it don't require injections or regular monitoring of blood thickness.
Dr. David Myerson, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University and an American Heart Association spokesman, said he was encouraged by the findings but that there is more to prove before the drug should be widely used.
If it proves successful for other conditions, such as irregular heart beat, stroke or artificial heart valves, its wide applicability would be ``striking,'' he said.
Exanta, made by AstraZeneca, intervenes in the blood clotting process at a later stage than Coumadin or heparin. Doctors can also give a broader dose range without creating bleeding problems.
The latest research consisted of two studies. One compared Exanta to Coumadin in 680 knee replacement patients in Canada and the United States. The other pitted the drug against low molecular weight heparins in 2,788 Europeans getting new hips or knees.
Experts say Exanta could become available within a year. They envision it being used in combination with blood thinners that attack clots from a different angle, such as aspirin or Plavix. It is not designed to replace such medicines, scientists said.
, But I feel there is light ahead!
