Dabigatran etexilate

Absorption

Oral dabigatran has a bioavailability of 3-7%, although the relative bioavailability of dabigatran pellets is 37% higher than that for capsules and the bioavailability increases to 75% when the capsule shell is removed; dabigatran capsules should not be tampered with in any way prior to administration. The Cmax is achieved by one hour following oral dosing, which is extended to two hours if accompanied by a high-fat meal. Dabigatran can be taken with or without food. Dabigatran pharmacokinetics are approximately linear over a range of 10-400 mg in healthy adults and adult patients and it has an accumulation factor of two in adult and pediatric patients.

Toxicity

No human studies involving pregnancy, labor and delivery, nursing, or pediatrics. Geriatric patients are at higher risk of adverse effects than younger patients but the risk to benefit ratio is generally still favourable for older patients. Patients with a creatinine clearance of 15-30mL/min should have their doses of dabigatran etexilate reduced, and no data is available for patients with a creatinine clearance below 15mL/min.
In animal studies, dabigatran increases the rates of dead offspring and causes uterine and vaginal bleeding close to birth. Dabigatran may or may not be excreted in breast milk so the risk and benefit of stopping the drug or stopping breast feeding must be considered.

Description

Dabigatran etexilate is an anticoagulant drug developed and marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim. The parent compound, dabigatran, is a potent thrombin blocker, but it cannot be administered orally. Adding the hydrophobic carbohexoxy group (“etexilate”) to the imine nitrogen created an orally absorbable prodrug.

Background

Dabigatran etexilate is an oral prodrug that is hydrolyzed to the competitive and reversible direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran. Dabigatran etexilate may be used to decrease the risk of venous thromboembolic events in patients in whom anticoagulation therapy is indicated. In contrast to warfarin, because its anticoagulant effects are predictable, lab monitoring is not necessary. Dabigatran etexilate was approved by the FDA in 2010.