Development of antidote to reverse effect of rivaroxaban and other anticoagulants edges closer

[Squaresloane]

blogs.nature.com/spoonful/2...

This report from Nature in March, may offer some comfort for those who have been worried by the present absence of an antidote - it sounds as if next year there may be an answer. Isn't it good to learn that drug companies are co-operating on this research? It suggests that there is the perception of a big market potential - with 1 million or mor with AF in the UK alone they are probably right.

[Squaresloane]

Sorry about the spellings - my fingers are too big for the mobile phone screen -

[Mrspat]

The cynical part of me says that the drug companies are waiting for uptake of the new drugs to increase before they invest money in developing the antidote.

[Squaresloane in reply to Mrspat]

Every good reason to ensure the patient voice is heard by all the local commissioning groups round the country - on this and other health issues.

[Finvola]

Thank you for that link, Squaresloane. I take Apixaban so that is some good news.

I am always cynical too, Mrspat, but perhaps the drug companies feel that even more of us will want to switch to the new anti-coags if there is a antidote?

[Squaresloane in reply to Finvola]

This forum is very empowering. We could probably organise a quick poll of members ( with the help of the volunteer moderators) to understand what their anticoagulant management should be ( subject to input from their treating clinician) once there is a choice of reversible options.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Thanks for this squaresloane, I certainly read a year ago or so that an antidote to rivaroxban was being developed I was not aware that the others were down the same path, and certainly not aware of the Perosphere idea of one antidote for all three different NOACs and potentially heparin. I am sure that this would be a very popular alternative for say emergency centres as they could just give it in almost any case. ( I might look them up and buy some shares )

I too, like you and Mrspat, am quite cynical about drug companies, but I think in this case the drug companies see the missing antidote as a bar to prescription and I think they are right.

Of course the drugs are substantially more expensive, but there is also evidence emerging that they are more effective, not enough yet, and we could do with some bigger and more substantial direct comparison trials versus warfarin.

But I think, and of course could be wrong, that at the moment, the doctors are somewhat hiding behind the "no antidote" element and therefore avoiding the cost one, and once that is taken away they will find it harder to avoid what I am sure will be a clamour from patients for what might be a more effective drug.

Oh and by the way us "volunteers" cannot organise Polls, but the AFA itself can on this forum, and if you have a burning desire to see the results from the 1400 or so members then email them and ask them the question you would like answered. I am sure they will respond and maybe even post the poll.

Be well

Ian

[Mrspat]

I can only assume that they were so worried about losing a competitive advantage that they rushed the drugs to market rather than wait and develop the antidote in tandem.

There was an interesting item on Newsnight a few days ago about drug companies not developing new antibiotics to replace those which are becoming ineffective. Nothing to do with AF but interesting as an insight into the way drug companies work.

[iris1205]

Thank you ! Great link.

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

Hi Mrspat

The makers of riveroxiban have been working on an antidote ever since it came out. I think it was felt that getting the new drugs out was important and that they could continue working on them. I also don't think they realised how patients would react to no antidote

Eileen

[Hidden]

hi thanks for that info i am hopefully changing to one of the new anticoagulants in the next week or two