Valve-Viking
Well-known member
At the annual Swedish cardiology-conference in May, it was mentioned
that AstraZeneca will now seek approval for further/extended use of
their drug "Exanta". It was not mentioned for which use, so far it has been
approved* for hip-tranplants and similar. Use for mechanical heart valves
are not to be expected now or in short-terms as there are no known
studies done or to my knowledge under progress. But there is an intent
to replace warfarin/coumadine at full extent. There is some concern over
the effect the drug has on the liver on longterm-use, this is not yet
concluded. Above is old news in most ways.
But it was also informed that at lest one further pharmaceutical company
had a similar drug ready for clinical-trials and as many as 5-6 other
pharmaceutical companies had drugs for similar use under development.
So I guess sooner or later, warfarin will be replaced with something
with less problems with interaction with foods/other drugs etc etc.
The good thing with ximelagatran is it do not seem to interact with
what you eat as well as other medicines. By taking this medicine twice
a day it maintains a stabile INR and it does not require frequent monitoring
therefore. You will still bleed the same, but you minimize the risk of clots
as you are always in range. I feel this information is good to know for those
that are wonderring over if to go for a Mechanical or tissue heartvalve.
If you are solely basing your decision on fear of warfarin, I guess it is far
to say, chances are good warfarin will be replaced within a not too far
away future.(And warfarin is also not so bad after all).
/
Martin
*Approved in various countries.
that AstraZeneca will now seek approval for further/extended use of
their drug "Exanta". It was not mentioned for which use, so far it has been
approved* for hip-tranplants and similar. Use for mechanical heart valves
are not to be expected now or in short-terms as there are no known
studies done or to my knowledge under progress. But there is an intent
to replace warfarin/coumadine at full extent. There is some concern over
the effect the drug has on the liver on longterm-use, this is not yet
concluded. Above is old news in most ways.
But it was also informed that at lest one further pharmaceutical company
had a similar drug ready for clinical-trials and as many as 5-6 other
pharmaceutical companies had drugs for similar use under development.
So I guess sooner or later, warfarin will be replaced with something
with less problems with interaction with foods/other drugs etc etc.
The good thing with ximelagatran is it do not seem to interact with
what you eat as well as other medicines. By taking this medicine twice
a day it maintains a stabile INR and it does not require frequent monitoring
therefore. You will still bleed the same, but you minimize the risk of clots
as you are always in range. I feel this information is good to know for those
that are wonderring over if to go for a Mechanical or tissue heartvalve.
If you are solely basing your decision on fear of warfarin, I guess it is far
to say, chances are good warfarin will be replaced within a not too far
away future.(And warfarin is also not so bad after all).
/
Martin
*Approved in various countries.
