Andexanet alfa: a recombinant mimetic of human factor Xa for the reversal of anticoagulant therapies

Activated coagulation factor X (FXa) is a common target for classic and newer anticoagulants. Parenteral anticoagulants with an indirect inhibitory action on FXa (low-molecular-weight heparins) have a well-established clinical efficacy in the prophylaxis and therapy of thromboembolic conditions. More recently developed direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as a new class of antithrombotic drugs. Rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban are direct inhibitors of FXa approved for the management of venous thromboembolism and stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. Although these DOACs are associated with fewer hemorrhagic side effects than classic vitamin K antagonists, bleeding is still a main complication. FXa antagonists had no specific agents that could reverse their antihemostatic effects. Andexanet alfa is a modified, recombinant human FXa molecule with an enhanced ability to bind to both direct and indirect FXa inhibitors, but unable to contribute to blood coagulation mechanisms. Andexanet alfa is designed to reverse the anticoagulant effects of FXa inhibitors. This review will address the preclinical pharmacology and the main aspects of the clinical development of andexanet alfa for the reversal of anticoagulant therapies with an inhibitory action on FXa. It will also summarize additional completed or ongoing studies on andexanet alfa available to the scientific community until present.