MHRA Issues Warning Over Oral Anticoagulants

Regulators in the United Kingdom warned doctors about prescribing rivaroxaban, a direct-acting oral anticoagulant, for treatment of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and a history of thrombosis.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said that a recent clinical trial testing rivaroxaban against warfarin found that it increased the risk of thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. The drugs are known by several brand names, including Eliquis, Pradax, Lixiana and Xarelto.

The warning was based on results from the ongoing TRAPS study, a randomized, open-label multicenter study, MHRA said.