Surgeons hopeful about new alternatives to heparin
May 23rd, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Surgeons are anticipating the approval of new blood thinners that could replace more conventional methods currently in use, according to the Ortho SuperSite, a resource for orthopedic surgeons and rheumatologists.
“As orthopedic surgeons, we look very critically at safety; we look very critically at efficacy. I think it is fair to say, if we consider those to be equal and the dosing schedule is equal, (and) they are both once-a-day, then it comes down to cost,” Richard J. Friedman, M.D., was quoted in the publication. “But we are looking (at) safety first and efficacy afterward.”
The topic, spurred by positive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee reviews of rivaroxaban, was discussed recently at the 76th annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Rivaroxaban, made by Bayer and marketed in other countries as Xarelto, is just one of many anticoagulants in development and expected to be on the market in the next one to three years.
Heparin is an injectible used in hospitals because it is easier to control than Coumadin, also known as warfarin, which requires close monitoring and frequent blood tests. Rivaroxaban is an attractive alternative because it comes in a pill and doesn’t require constant monitoring. If approved by the FDA, Rivaroxaban will be marketed by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals.
“Often in orthopedics, even the best of folks take a long time to incorporate and change practice patterns,” said Fred D. Cushner, M.D. “The big question is, who is going to switch? … This is debatable, but my personal opinion is the injectables will probably be the first to go.”