Apixaban Explained

Watchedfields:changed
Verifiedrevid:443663022
Tradename:Eliquis, others
Dailymedid:Apixaban
Pregnancy Au:C
Pregnancy Au Comment:[1]
Routes Of Administration:By mouth
Atc Prefix:B01
Atc Suffix:AF02
Legal Uk:POM
Legal Uk Comment:[2]
Legal Us:Rx-only
Legal Eu:Rx-only
Legal Status:Rx-only
Bioavailability:~50%
Protein Bound:~87%
Metabolism:CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP1A2 and others
Elimination Half-Life:9–14 h
Excretion:Bile duct (75%), kidney (25%)
Cas Number:503612-47-3
Pubchem:10182969
Iuphar Ligand:6390
Drugbank:DB07828
Chemspiderid:8358471
Unii:3Z9Y7UWC1J
Kegg:D03213
Chembl:231779
Synonyms:BMS-562247-01
Iupac Name:1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7-oxo-6-[4-(2-oxopiperidin-1-yl)phenyl]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridine-3-carboxamide
C:25
H:25
N:5
O:4
Smiles:O=C5N(c4ccc(N3C(=O)c1c(c(nn1c2ccc(OC)cc2)C(=O)N)CC3)cc4)CCCC5
Stdinchi:1S/C25H25N5O4/c1-34-19-11-9-18(10-12-19)30-23-20(22(27-30)24(26)32)13-15-29(25(23)33)17-7-5-16(6-8-17)28-14-3-2-4-21(28)31/h5-12H,2-4,13-15H2,1H3,(H2,26,32)
Stdinchikey:QNZCBYKSOIHPEH-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Apixaban, sold under the brand name Eliquis, is an anticoagulant medication used to treat and prevent blood clots and to prevent stroke in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation through directly inhibiting factor Xa.[3] [4] Specifically, it is used to prevent blood clots following hip or knee replacement and in those with a history of prior clots. It is used as an alternative to warfarin and does not require monitoring by blood tests or dietary restrictions.[5] It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include bleeding and nausea.[3] Other side effects may include bleeding around the spine and allergic reactions. Use is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.[3] Use appears to be relatively safe in those with mild kidney problems.[3] Compared to warfarin it has fewer interactions with other medications.[6] It is a direct factor Xa inhibitor.

In 2007, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb began development of apixaban as an anticoagulant.[7] Apixaban was approved for medical use in the European Union in May 2011, and in the United States in December 2012.[8] [9] [10] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[11] In 2021, it was the 33rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States with more than 17million prescriptions.[12] [13] It is available as a generic medication, although not in the United States.[14]

Medical uses

Apixaban is indicated for the following:

In the EU, apixaban is indicated for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in adults who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery, the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) with one or more risk factors, for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in adults, and for the prevention of recurrent DVT and PE in adults.

Atrial fibrillation

Apixaban is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in people with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and at least one of the following risk factors: prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, age 75 years or older, diabetes, or symptomatic heart failure.[15]

Apixaban and other anticoagulants (dabigatran, edoxaban and rivaroxaban) appear equally effective as warfarin in preventing non-hemorrhagic stroke in people with atrial fibrillation and are associated with lower risk of intracranial bleeding.[16] [17]

While apixaban may be used in people with severely decreased kidney function and those on hemodialysis it has not been studied in these groups.[9]

Side effects

Bleeding

Apixaban can increase the risk of bleeding which may be serious and potentially fatal. Concurrent use with other medications that affect blood clotting can further increase this risk. This includes medications such as other anticoagulants, heparin, aspirin, antiplatelet medications, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).[18] [19] [20]

Andexanet alfa is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved antidote for apixaban in people with uncontrolled and life-threatening bleeding events.[21] [22]

Spinal puncture

Following spinal anesthesia or puncture, people who are being treated with anti-thrombotic agents are at higher risk for developing a hematoma, which causes long-term or permanent paralysis. The risk of this may be increased by using epidural or intrathecal catheters after a surgical operation or from the concurrent use of medicinal agents that affect hemostasis.

Mechanism of action

Apixaban is a highly selective, orally bioavailable, and reversible direct inhibitor of free and clot-bound factor Xa. Factor Xa catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, the final enzyme in the coagulation cascade that is responsible for fibrin clot formation.[23] Apixaban has no direct effect on platelet aggregation, but by inhibiting factor Xa, it indirectly decreases clot formation induced by thrombin.[24]

History

Apixaban was approved for medical use in the European Union in May 2011.

A new drug application (NDA) for the approval of apixaban was submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Pfizer jointly after conclusion of the ARISTOTLE clinical trial in 2011.[25] Apixaban was approved for the prevention of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation on 28 December 2012.[26] On 13 March 2014, it was approved for the additional indication of preventing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in people who have recently undergone knee or hip replacement.[27] [28] On 21 August 2014, the FDA approved apixaban for the additional indication of the treatment of recurring deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.[29] During its development the drug was known as BMS-562247-01.[30] By late 2019, sales of the product by BMS accounted for thirty percent of their quarterly revenue.[31]

Society and culture

Economics

In December 2019, the US FDA approved a generic version of apixaban produced jointly by Mylan and Micro Labs.[32] BMS and Pfizer worked quickly to block generics from being created, and in August 2020, they won a patent infringement lawsuit against Sigmapharm, Sunshine Lake, and Unichem, after previously settling patent cases against 25 other companies.[33] [34] In September 2021, a Federal Circuit Court upheld the ruling.[35] The result is that apixaban generics will most likely not be available in the United States until at least 2026, but possibly 2031.[14]

In July 2022, the Canadian generic drug company, Apotex Inc., obtained approval for marketing of apixaban.[36] [37]

Apixaban is one of ten medications covered by price negotiations in the US under the Inflation Reduction Act. The negotiations, conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, apply to pricing for Medicare recipients. Bristol Myers Squibb responded to initial reports of the negotiations by highlighting out-of-pocket prices for Eliquis. A senior BMS executive argued in an August 2023 interview that patients already received low out-of-pocket prices, commenting that "seniors on average pay about [US]$55 per month for Eliquis and over half of all Eliquis patients—whether they’re commercial or Medicare—pay [US]$45 or less."[38] The results of the negotiations were announced in August 2024, and Medicare's negotiated price for a 30-day supply of Eliquis is, a 56% decrease from the 2023 list price of . The pricing is set to take effect in 2026.[39] [40]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Apixaban (Eliquis) Use During Pregnancy . Drugs.com . 21 June 2019 . 13 August 2020.
  2. Web site: Eliquis 5 mg film-coated tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) . (emc) . 3 May 2022 . 8 October 2022.
  3. Book: British national formulary: BNF 76. 2018. Pharmaceutical Press. 9780857113382. 124–125. 76.
  4. Web site: 23 December 2019. FDA approves first generics of Eliquis. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191223220042/https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-generics-eliquis. 23 December 2019. 23 December 2019. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  5. Hall H . Harriet Hall . September-October 2020 . How a Drug Is Born . . Amherst, New York . .
  6. Book: Kiser K . Oral Anticoagulation Therapy: Cases and Clinical Correlation . 2017 . Springer . 9783319546438 . 11 .
  7. Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer Announce Worldwide Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize Anticoagulant and Metabolic Compounds. live. 25 December 2021. Pfizer . https://web.archive.org/web/20150910142120/http://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/bristol_myers_squibb_and_pfizer_announce_worldwide_collaboration_to_develop_and_commercialize_anticoagulant_and_metabolic_compounds . 10 September 2015 .
  8. Web site: Eliquis EPAR . . 17 September 2018 . 22 April 2020. Text was copied from this source which is copyright European Medicines Agency. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged.
  9. Web site: Apixaban Monograph for Professionals . Drugs.com . American Society of Health-System Pharmacists . 27 March 2019 .
  10. Web site: 13 February 2013. Drug Approval Package: Eliquis (apixaban) NDA #202155. 23 December 2019. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  11. Book: ((World Health Organization)) . World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021) . 2021 . 10665/345533 . World Health Organization . World Health Organization . Geneva . WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02 . free .
  12. Web site: The Top 300 of 2021 . ClinCalc . 14 January 2024 . 15 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240115223848/https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Top300Drugs.aspx . live .
  13. Web site: Apixaban - Drug Usage Statistics . ClinCalc . 14 January 2024.
  14. Web site: With Court Win, BMS and Pfizer Stave Off Generic Challengers to Eliquis – For Now. 29 November 2021. BioSpace. 6 August 2020 .
  15. Web site: Apixaban for preventing stroke and systemic embolism in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation . PDF . . January 2013 . 26 February 2016.
  16. Gómez-Outes A, Terleira-Fernández AI, Calvo-Rojas G, Suárez-Gea ML, Vargas-Castrillón E . Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, or Apixaban versus Warfarin in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Subgroups . Thrombosis . 2013 . 640723 . 2013 . 24455237 . 3885278 . 10.1155/2013/640723 . free .
  17. Lowenstern A, Al-Khatib SM, Sharan L, Chatterjee R, Allen LaPointe NM, Shah B, Borre ED, Raitz G, Goode A, Yapa R, Davis JK, Lallinger K, Schmidt R, Kosinski AS, Sanders GD . Interventions for Preventing Thromboembolic Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review . Annals of Internal Medicine . 169 . 11 . 774–787 . December 2018 . 30383133 . 6825839 . 10.7326/M18-1523 .
  18. Web site: Atrial fibrillation and new oral anticoagulant drugs . U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) . 2 December 2015 . 22 April 2020.
  19. Web site: Atrial fibrillation, oral anticoagulant drugs, and their reversal agents . U.S. Food and Drug Administration . 2 December 2015 . 22 April 2020.
  20. Web site: No change is needed in use of direct oral anticoagulants following EMA-funded study . European Medicines Agency (EMA) . 27 March 2020 . 22 April 2020.
  21. Web site: Andexxa- andexanet alfa injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution . . 8 January 2019 . 23 December 2019.
  22. Web site: Andexxa (coagulation factor Xa (recombinant), inactivated-zhzo) . U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) . 31 December 2018 . 22 April 2020.
  23. Frost C, Wang J, Nepal S, Schuster A, Barrett YC, Mosqueda-Garcia R, Reeves RA, LaCreta F . Apixaban, an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor: single dose safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and food effect in healthy subjects . British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology . 75 . 2 . 476–487 . February 2013 . 22759198 . 3558798 . 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04369.x .
  24. Web site: Eliquis- apixaban tablet, film coated Eliquis 30-day starter pack- apixaban kit . DailyMed . 26 November 2019 . 22 April 2020.
  25. Granger CB, Alexander JH, McMurray JJ, Lopes RD, Hylek EM, Hanna M, Al-Khalidi HR, Ansell J, Atar D, Avezum A, Bahit MC, Diaz R, Easton JD, Ezekowitz JA, Flaker G, Garcia D, Geraldes M, Gersh BJ, Golitsyn S, Goto S, Hermosillo AG, Hohnloser SH, Horowitz J, Mohan P, Jansky P, Lewis BS, Lopez-Sendon JL, Pais P, Parkhomenko A, Verheugt FW, Zhu J, Wallentin L . Apixaban versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation . The New England Journal of Medicine . 365 . 11 . 981–992 . September 2011 . 21870978 . 10.1056/NEJMoa1107039 . 43262809 . free .
  26. Cada DJ, Levien TL, Baker DE . Apixaban . Hospital Pharmacy . 48 . 6 . 494–509 . June 2013 . 24421512 . 3839491 . 10.1310/hpj4806-494 .
  27. Web site: FDA-Approved Drugs: Eliquis (apixaban). 23 December 2019. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  28. News: Neale T . 14 March 2014. FDA OKs Apixaban for DVT Prevention. MedPage Today. 17 September 2015.
  29. U.S. FDA Approves Eliquis (apixaban) for the Treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), and for the Reduction in the Risk of Recurrent DVT and PE Following Initial Therapy. Pfizer. 21 August 2014. 26 February 2016.
  30. Web site: Apixaban. 2 September 2022. PubChem, US National Library of Medicine. 27 August 2022.
  31. News: 24 December 2019. FIRST: Mylan, Micro Labs get USFDA nod for generic version of blood thinner Eliquis. Business Medical Dialogues. Minerva Medical Treatment. New Delhi, India. 24 December 2019.
  32. Web site: 2019 First Generic Drugs Approvals . U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) . 5 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230630003606/https://www.fda.gov/drugs/first-generic-drug-approvals/2019-first-generic-drug-approvals . 30 June 2023 . live . 30 June 2023.
  33. Web site: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc.. 30 November 2021. JD Supra.
  34. Web site: Bristol Myers, Pfizer fend off a key challenge to their top-selling heart drug. 30 November 2021. BioPharma Dive.
  35. Web site: Federal Circuit Crystallizes BMS' Apixaban District Court Win. 30 November 2021. The National Law Review.
  36. Web site: Levy S . Apotex offers generic Eliquis in Canada . Drugstore News . 2 September 2022 . 1 August 2022.
  37. First Generic Alternative to Eliquis Now Available in Canada . Apotex . 20 July 2022 . 29 June 2023.
  38. Web site: Kansteiner . Fraiser . 29 August 2023 . Drugs from J&J, Merck, Novartis, BMS and more set for first round of Medicare price negotiations: CMS . 31 August 2023.
  39. Web site: Lovelace Jr. . Berkeley . 2024-08-15 . Medicare announces lower prices on 10 common, high-cost drugs . 2024-08-21 . NBC News . en.
  40. Web site: August 15, 2024 . Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Medicare Prices Negotiated for 2026 Compared to List and U.S. Market Prices . Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .