[Haemostasis and antithrombotic drugs: pharmacology and novel therapeutic approaches].
Considerable progress has been made during the last years with the development of new antiplatelet and antithrombotic agents. The introduction of the ADP-antagonist Clopidogrel some years ago was the first alternative to oral acetylsalicylic acid for long-term treatment. Prasugrel, another ADP-antagonist, is currently in advanced stages of clinical trials. Regarding antithrombotic drugs the interest has been focussed on small molecule direct inhibitors of thrombin and factor Xa. (Xi)Melagatran is one of the recent developments in direct thrombin inhibitors, Dabigatran may follow soon. Several factor Xa inhibitors are currently subject to clinical trials, including Rivaroxaban; others may follow. From a pharmacological point of view these compounds are likely to improve and enlarge the spectrum of available antiplatelet and antithrombotic drugs, respectively.
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Institut für Pharmakologie und Klinische Pharmakologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf. kschroer@uni-duesseldorf.de