[Anticoagulation: the present and the future]

Because of its central role in the coagulation cascade thrombin is an attractive target for its inhibition. Many limitations of conventional anticoagulants have been eliminated by the development of the direct oral thrombin inhibitor ximelagatran. Thus, this compound may fulfil the criteria of an ideal anticoagulant. The antithrombotic efficacy and safety of this inhibitor is presently studied in a large clinical development program.