Comparison of Efficacy and Safety Among Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, and Apixaban in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

Summary

1. The recent development of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs), including direct thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran) and factor Xa inhibitors (rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban), could potentially overcome many drawbacks of warfarin, and might provide a safer, and even more effective and convenient alternative approach to warfarin in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), especially in Asians. 2. According to the results of a meta-analysis comparing Asians and non-Asians, NOACs are preferentially indicated in Asians in terms of both efficacy and safety. 3. There is no randomized controlled trial with sufficient power to directly compare the efficacy and safety among NOACs in NVAF, not to speak of Asians and Chinese. 4. Indirect comparisons are only based on observation with a lot of limitations such as heterogeneous background characteristics, difference in study design, and diversity in time within therapeutic range in control group. The findings from indirect comparisons are not conclusive but only hypothesis-generating. 5. This investigator-initiated prospective randomized open blinded end-point clinical trial will directly compare the efficacy and safety among 3 NOACs in patients with NVAF in Taiwan. We hypothesize that rivaroxaban or apixaban is non-inferior to dabigatran in terms of the efficacy.

Timeline

Start

2016-01

Primary completion

2018-12

Completion

2018-12

Publications

• Background Chiang CE, Zhang S, Tse HF, Teo WS, Omar R, Sriratanasathavorn C. Atrial fibrillation management in Asia: from the Asian expert forum on atrial fibrillation. Int J Cardiol. 2013 Mar 20;164(1):21-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2011.12.033. Epub 2012 Jan 10.
• Background Chiang CE, Wang KL, Lip GY. Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: an Asian perspective. Thromb Haemost. 2014 May 5;111(5):789-97. doi: 10.1160/TH13-11-0948. Epub 2014 Feb 6.
• Background Lin LJ, Cheng MH, Lee CH, Wung DC, Cheng CL, Kao Yang YH. Compliance with antithrombotic prescribing guidelines for patients with atrial fibrillation--a nationwide descriptive study in Taiwan. Clin Ther. 2008 Sep;30(9):1726-36. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2008.09.010.
• Background Chang CH, Yang YH, Chen JH, Lin LJ. Cost-effectiveness of dabigatran etexilate for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in atrial fibrillation in Taiwan. Thromb Res. 2014 May;133(5):782-9. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2014.02.024. Epub 2014 Mar 3.
• Background Lip GY, Wang KL, Chiang CE. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for stroke prevention in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation: time for a reappraisal. Int J Cardiol. 2015 Feb 1;180:246-54. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.11.182. Epub 2014 Nov 26.
• Background Connolly SJ, Ezekowitz MD, Yusuf S, Eikelboom J, Oldgren J, Parekh A, Pogue J, Reilly PA, Themeles E, Varrone J, Wang S, Alings M, Xavier D, Zhu J, Diaz R, Lewis BS, Darius H, Diener HC, Joyner CD, Wallentin L; RE-LY Steering Committee and Investigators. Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2009 Sep 17;361(12):1139-51. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0905561. Epub 2009 Aug 30.
• Background Patel MR, Mahaffey KW, Garg J, Pan G, Singer DE, Hacke W, Breithardt G, Halperin JL, Hankey GJ, Piccini JP, Becker RC, Nessel CC, Paolini JF, Berkowitz SD, Fox KA, Califf RM; ROCKET AF Investigators. Rivaroxaban versus warfarin in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2011 Sep 8;365(10):883-91. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1009638. Epub 2011 Aug 10.
• Background 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; ARISTOTLE Committees and Investigators. Apixaban versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2011 Sep 15;365(11):981-92. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1107039. Epub 2011 Aug 27.
• Background Giugliano RP, Ruff CT, Braunwald E, Murphy SA, Wiviott SD, Halperin JL, Waldo AL, Ezekowitz MD, Weitz JI, Spinar J, Ruzyllo W, Ruda M, Koretsune Y, Betcher J, Shi M, Grip LT, Patel SP, Patel I, Hanyok JJ, Mercuri M, Antman EM; ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 Investigators. Edoxaban versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2013 Nov 28;369(22):2093-104. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1310907. Epub 2013 Nov 19.
• Background Hori M, Connolly SJ, Zhu J, Liu LS, Lau CP, Pais P, Xavier D, Kim SS, Omar R, Dans AL, Tan RS, Chen JH, Tanomsup S, Watanabe M, Koyanagi M, Ezekowitz MD, Reilly PA, Wallentin L, Yusuf S; RE-LY Investigators. Dabigatran versus warfarin: effects on ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes and bleeding in Asians and non-Asians with atrial fibrillation. Stroke. 2013 Jul;44(7):1891-6. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.113.000990. Epub 2013 Jun 6.
• Background Ruff CT, Giugliano RP, Braunwald E, Hoffman EB, Deenadayalu N, Ezekowitz MD, Camm AJ, Weitz JI, Lewis BS, Parkhomenko A, Yamashita T, Antman EM. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of new oral anticoagulants with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomised trials. Lancet. 2014 Mar 15;383(9921):955-62. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62343-0. Epub 2013 Dec 4.
• Background Lip GY, Larsen TB, Skjoth F, Rasmussen LH. Indirect comparisons of new oral anticoagulant drugs for efficacy and safety when used for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012 Aug 21;60(8):738-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2012.03.019. Epub 2012 May 9.
• Background Ezekowitz MD, Connolly S, Parekh A, Reilly PA, Varrone J, Wang S, Oldgren J, Themeles E, Wallentin L, Yusuf S. Rationale and design of RE-LY: randomized evaluation of long-term anticoagulant therapy, warfarin, compared with dabigatran. Am Heart J. 2009 May;157(5):805-10, 810.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2009.02.005.
• Background ROCKET AF Study Investigators. Rivaroxaban-once daily, oral, direct factor Xa inhibition compared with vitamin K antagonism for prevention of stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation: rationale and design of the ROCKET AF study. Am Heart J. 2010 Mar;159(3):340-347.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2009.11.025.
• Background Lopes RD, Alexander JH, Al-Khatib SM, Ansell J, Diaz R, Easton JD, Gersh BJ, Granger CB, Hanna M, Horowitz J, Hylek EM, McMurray JJ, Verheugt FW, Wallentin L; ARISTOTLE Investigators. Apixaban for reduction in stroke and other ThromboemboLic events in atrial fibrillation (ARISTOTLE) trial: design and rationale. Am Heart J. 2010 Mar;159(3):331-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2009.07.035.
• Background Ruff CT, Giugliano RP, Antman EM, Crugnale SE, Bocanegra T, Mercuri M, Hanyok J, Patel I, Shi M, Salazar D, McCabe CH, Braunwald E. Evaluation of the novel factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban compared with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation: design and rationale for the Effective aNticoaGulation with factor xA next GEneration in Atrial Fibrillation-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction study 48 (ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48). Am Heart J. 2010 Oct;160(4):635-41. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2010.06.042.
• Background Wang KL, Lip GY, Lin SJ, Chiang CE. Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Asian Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: Meta-Analysis. Stroke. 2015 Sep;46(9):2555-61. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.009947. Epub 2015 Jul 30.

Drugs

Indications