<Internation Circulation>:Could you please talk about the optimal strategy of antithrombotic treatment of Atrial Fibrillation?
<Internation Circulation>:Will you please talk about the latest developments in thrombosis given your position as the Canada Research Chair in Thrombosis.
prof.Weitz:We have just talked about some of the advances. The impetus to develop oral thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors came from basic research indicating that clot-associated thrombin and factor Xa are protected from inhibition by conventional anticoagulants. The new agents were designed to overcome this problem. In addition, in contrast to warfarin, the new oral anticoagulants were also designed to be given in fixed doses with little or no coagulation monitoring. The benefit of these new drugs is only beginning to become apparent. As we get more data, it is likely that these new agents will replace warfarin.