New oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have revolutionized anticoagulant therapy in recent years. Although the NOACs have limitations regarding patients who can benefit from them, they are effective for treating various conditions.
NOACs have altered the previously accepted therapeutic choices for anticoagulation. They are intended to replace warfarin treatment. These drugs have benefits, including the fact that laboratory testing to monitor therapy is not required. Additional benefits include reduced food and drug interactions and rapid onset of action. However, these drugs are not without their laboratory testing challenges and clinical limitations.
NOACs are a novel class of oral anticoagulants that directly target activated coagulation factors, unlike vitamin K antagonists (VKA). These drugs act directly on specific activated factors. The NOACs are effective and safe compared with VKA for treating or preventing blood clots in coagulation disorders.
The first oral thrombin (factor IIa) inhibitor was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009. Two years later, the first oral direct factor Xa inhibitor was also approved by the FDA.
