AVERROES: Apixaban Bests Aspirin for Stroke Reduction in AF

Session co-chair Dr. Ralph Brindis went even further in an interview: “I think when these anti-Xa drugs become commercially available, warfarin is going to basically just go away. Formularies will be very hard pressed not to include them. Patients and doctors will insist on it. The patients have been begging for a replacement for warfarin,” said Dr. Brindis, the current president of the American College of Cardiology and senior advisor for cardiovascular disease for Northern California Kaiser Permanente, Oakland.

As for AVERROES, he considers the study of value mainly as proof of safety.

“I would have been shocked if it didn’t show efficacy. We already know that an antithrombin is going to be more effective than aspirin; there’s nothing new there,” the cardiologist said.

AVERROES was sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer. Dr. Connolly disclosed receiving research grants and lecture and consulting fees from the two companies. Dr. Arnesen and Dr. Brindis reported no financial conflicts.