title: Discovery of ximelagatran in an historical perspective.
abstract: The oral direct thrombin inhibitor ximelagatran is the first oral anticoagulant since the introduction of the vitamin K antagonists in the early 1940s. A comparison of the discovery and early clinical development of the two classes of oral anticoagulants reveals some similarities but also several differences that illustrate the change in drug discovery over the last half century.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000266:history* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001384:Azetidines / Q000266:history* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001596:Benzylamines; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002417:Cattle; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D029903:Melilotus / Q000009:adverse effects; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001384:Azetidines; D001596:Benzylamines; D014812:Vitamin K; C426686:ximelagatran; D014859:Warfarin; D013917:Thrombin