Apixaban is an anticoagulant for the prevention of venous thromboembolism and venous thromboembolic events. It is a direct factor Xa inhibitor. Apixaban has been available in Europe since May 2011 and was approved for preventing venous thromboembolism after elective hip or knee replacement. Apixaban is a factor Xa inhibitor (anticoagulant) indicated to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.A systematic review of new anticoagulants states the treatment benefits of apixaban and other new anticoagulants compared with warfarin are small and vary depending on the control achieved by warfarin treatment.[6] Patients already taking warfarin with excellent international normalized ratio (INR) control may have little to gain by switching to new oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation.
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