Ximelagatran reduces stroke risk in atrial fibrillation

The oral direct thrombin inhibitor ximelagatran ['Exanta'] offers significant advantages over warfarin for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, according to results from the SPORTIF III study presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology [Chicago, US; March−April 2003]. This study, part of the SPORTIF clinical trial programme, showed that ximelagatran reduced the incidence of stroke and systemic embolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation, and was associated with a reduced risk of bleeding, compared with warfarin. Furthermore, unlike warfarin, ximelagatran could be administered as a fixed oral dose without titration or coagulation monitoring.