New antithrombotics: the impact on global health care

New and generic forms of widely used medications introduced in the antiplatelet, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic therapeutic classes will have a world-wide impact on prescribing, practice guidelines, and routine patient care. However, several uncertainties regarding these agents will remain even after the publication of their respective pivotal trials or regulatory approval. These questions include dosing in the frail, the elderly, and in those with renal and/or hepatic dysfunction, timing of administration in the peri-operative period, efficacy and safety in subgroup populations such as patients with cancer, the interchangeability of biosimilar products, and outcome differences between new agents in the absence of head-to-head clinical trials. Additionally, new generic forms of widely used agents have recently impacted the United States (US) and Canadian market place and more are under development. Clinicians should be vigilant concerning these agents and be prepared to inform patients and make decisions with their use.