Population pharmacokinetics of melagatran, the active form of the oral direct thrombin inhibitor ximelagatran, in atrial fibrillation patients receiving long-term anticoagulation therapy.

Background: Ximelagatran is an oral direct thrombin inhibitor for the prevention of thromboembolic disease. After oral administration, ximelagatran is rapidly absorbed and bioconverted to its active form, melagatran.

Objective: To characterise the pharmacokinetics of melagatran in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) receiving long-term treatment for prevention of stroke and systemic embolic events.