A recent study reveals that abelacimab reduces the rate of bleeding events significantly more than rivaroxaban in atrial fibrillation patients, thereby providing a safer alternative for anticoagulation.
A novel Factor XI inhibitor called abelacimab reduced significantly the events of bleed in patients with atrial fibrillation relative to the most commonly used anticoagulant, rivaroxaban, showed a study appearing recently in The New England Journal of Medicine. High bleeding reduction put Abelacimab to an early termination of the 1,287-patient AZALEA-TIMI 71 trial.
The treatment group had a 62% decrease in events leading to hospitalization or medical attention from patients administered 150 mg of abelacimab every month compared to those on rivaroxaban. Importantly, gastrointestinal bleeds-an unfortunate side effect with anticoagulants-were decreased by a total of 93% in the abelacimab treatment group.
General Cardiology director at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a senior investigator with the TIMI Study Group, Dr. Christian T. Ruff, said: “This further adds to the promise of abelacimab as a potentially safer alternative to current anticoagulants to address the risk of bleeding.”
Abelacimab works by inhibiting Factor XI, a protein that is part of the coagulation process, thus reducing the chance of clot formation while maintaining normal hemostasis. Its monthly subcutaneous administration provides an alternative to daily oral anticoagulants, which could potentially improve patient adherence.
The trial was not designed to test stroke prevention efficacy, but a substantial reduction in bleeding complications makes abelacimab an exciting prospect for patients with AF, especially those at higher risk of bleeding. Further studies are expected to confirm its utility in stroke prevention and whether it could play a role in broader anticoagulation therapy.
