Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of the Nonvitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Edoxaban When Administered Alone or After Switching from Rivaroxaban or Dabigatran Etexilate in Healthy Subjects

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Edoxaban is an oral, once-daily direct factor Xa inhibitor. To support the possibility that patients may choose to switch treatment from another nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant to edoxaban, this clinical study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of edoxaban after switching from rivaroxaban or dabigatran etexilate to edoxaban. METHODS: In this open-label, three-period, crossover study, healthy subjects received 3 days of edoxaban 60 mg daily, rivaroxaban 20 mg daily, or dabigatran etexilate 150 mg twice daily, followed by edoxaban 60 mg on day 4. RESULTS: Day 4 edoxaban pharmacokinetic parameters were similar for all treatments. The peak effect of edoxaban on prothrombin time (PT) after 4 days of edoxaban only was 21.8 ± 2.46 s; after switching from rivaroxaban to edoxaban, peak effect on PT was similar at 21.8 ± 2.88 s. After switching from dabigatran etexilate to edoxaban, least squares mean activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) at 2 h after administration was 47.6 vs 35.0 s for edoxaban alone. The treatment difference was 12.8 s (95 % confidence interval 10.5–15.1; p < 0.0001). Post hoc analysis revealed that predose aPTT was elevated on day 3 of dabigatran etexilate administration, and on day 4, indicating a carryover effect from dabigatran. All treatments were well tolerated and there were no safety concerns upon switching, with no increased risk of bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that switching to edoxaban from either rivaroxaban or dabigatran etexilate at the time of the next dose is well tolerated and maintains coagulation status.