Table 3.

Clinically relevant pharmacological properties and pharmacokinetics of NOACs.

	Dabigatran	Rivaroxaban	Apixaban
Direct target	Factor IIa (thrombin)	Factor Xa	Factor Xa
Pro-drug	Yes: dabigatran etexilate	No	No
Bioavailability (%)	6–10	66% without food 80–100% with food	50
Time to peak plasma concentration (h)	3	2–4	3
Half-life (h)	12–17	5–13	9–14
Metabolism	P-gp	P-gp CYP3A4/3A5 CYP2J2	P-gp CYP3A4/3A5
Renal elimination (%)	80	33	27

Note. From “2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS,” by P. Kirchhof, S. Benussi, D. Kotecha, A. Ahlsson, D. Atar, B. Casadei, et al., 2016, Eur Heart J, 37, p. 2893–62. Copyright 2016, The European Society of Cardiology. From “Updated European Heart Rhythm Association practical guide on the use of non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: executive summary,” by H. Heidbuchel, P. Verhamme, M. Alings, M. Antz, H.C. Diener, W. Hacke, et al, 2015, Europace, 17, p. 1467–507. Copyright 2016, The European Society of Cardiology. Adapted with permission.

NOACs = non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants; P-gp = P-glycoprotein.