Factor Xa Inhibitor Offering Effective Therapy for Venous Thrombosis
Edoxaban (DU-176b) inhibits the activities of Factor Xa, and plays an important role in inhibiting blood coagulation and preventing thrombosis.
Like the antiplatelet agent Prasugrel, it is designed for the treatment of thromboembolic diseases. While antiplatelet agents work on diseases associated with arterial thrombosis, in particular on cerebral and myocardial infarctions, the Factor Xa inhibitor Edoxaban is expected to offer an effective therapy for venous thrombosis.
A venous thrombosis is a blood clot resulting from the slowing down of the blood flow, e.g. the so-called Economy Class Syndrome, a thrombosis caused by poor blood circulation in the veins of the legs when the legs are kept angled in a seating position for a long duration. Clots may travel through the bloodstream to the lungs and block the pulmonary vessels, resulting in the severe impairment of pulmonary functions (pulmonary thromboembolism triggered by deep vein thrombosis).
Blood clots formed through stagnation of the blood flow due to cardiac arrhythmias may travel by way of the blood circulation to the brain and block the cerebral vessels, resulting in cerebral embolism (thromboembolism triggered by atrial fibrillation).
| Arterial Thrombosis | Venous Thrombosis |
|---|---|
| Myocardial infarction Cerebral infarction |
Economy Class Syndrome (Pulmonary embolism) Cerebral embolism |
| Antiplatelet agent suppresses platelet coagulation |
Anticoagulant (Factor Xa Inhibitor) inhibits the formation of fibrin responsible for blood coagulation |
| Prasugrel (CS-747) | Edoxaban (DU-176b) |
Promising New Drug Developed Inhouse
In past clinical studies up to Phase II, Edoxaban was proven to have high oral absorption and to provide a significant improvement in side effects (bleeding risk) as well as faster onset of pharmacological action (antithrombotic action) in comparison with existing anticoagulants (warfarin and heparin). Furthermore, high utility is expected from its relative ease of dosage control.
In view of the mounting competition between pharmaceutical manufacturers over the development of Factor Xa Inhibitors, we are pressing ahead with large-scale Phase III trials around the world in pursuit of a best-in-class product. Our hopes are pinned on Edoxaban, a new drug with great market potential, to follow the success of Prasugrel.
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