Review of the Pharmacology of the Emerging Possibilities of the Direct Oral Anticoagulants' Reversal

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) offer consistent and predictable anticoagulation, oral administration with good patient compliance and a good safety profile. Dabigatran - a direct thrombin inhibitor, apixaban and rivaroxaban - direct factor Xa inhibitors are now largely used for anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and in patients with venous thromboembolism. These agents have emerged as an expediential clinical choice in long-term anticoagulation for an increasing number of patients. Despite their advantages, concerns persist about a lack of rapid reversal agents in urgent clinical situations. Methods: This review is focused on the pharmacology of nonspecific and target-specific reversal agents for DOACs-induced anticoagulation. A systemic review of preclinical and clinical studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals was performed. Results and Conclusions: Fresh frozen plasma and coagulation factors concentrates might be considered in bleeding emergencies; however, there is a lack of larger studies confirming the efficacy of coagulation factors concentrates for the reversal of DOACs-induced anticoagulation, and a particular risk of coagulation factors concentrates-induced thrombosis. Recently, idarucizumab has been approved commercially for acute reversal of dabigatran in emergencies as a first target-specific reversal agent. Moreover, andexanet alpha and aripazine are being extensively studied in several phase II and III clinical studies. It is likely that more target-specific agents for reversal of DOACs- induced anticoagulation will be introduced to clinical practice in near future.