Objective: Treatment of deep venous thrombosis is founded on the association of low molecular heparins and oral anticoagulants for 3-6 months. In spite of their uncontested efficacy, these therapeutics bring an hemorrhagic risk and the need of regular laboratory controls for the whole duration of the treatment. The clinical need to extend the indications of anticoagulants have made necessary the development of new antithrombotic treatments.
New features: Two new molecules, fondaparinux and ximelagatran, have been recently developed and are, at present, in very advanced phase of clinical research. Already published phase III studies on venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis show the efficacy of these new molecules towards this indication. The results of phase III study in patients with acute VTE have not been published yet.
Projects and perspectives: The new anticoagulant molecules fondaparinux and ximelagatran could open the way to new therapeutic possibilities that could simplify the managing of patients under anticoagulant treatment.