Publications by authors named "Sonja Schiffer"

Rivaroxaban is a direct, oral factor Xa inhibitor that is used for the prevention and treatment of various thromboembolic disorders. Several preclinical and clinical studies have utilized specific molecules as biomarkers to investigate the potential role of rivaroxaban beyond its anticoagulant activity and across a range of biological processes. The aim of this review is to summarize the existing evidence regarding the use of blood-based biomarkers to characterize the effects of rivaroxaban on coagulation and other pathways, including platelet activation, inflammation and endothelial effects.

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 This X-VeRT (eXplore the efficacy and safety of once-daily oral riVaroxaban for the prevention of caRdiovascular events in patients with nonvalvular aTrial fibrillation scheduled for cardioversion) substudy evaluated the effects of treatment with rivaroxaban or a vitamin-K antagonist (VKA) on levels of biomarkers of coagulation (D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin III complex [TAT] and prothrombin fragment [F1.2]) and inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] and high-sensitivity interleukin-6 [hs-IL-6]) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were scheduled for cardioversion and had not received adequate anticoagulation at baseline (defined as, in the 21 days before randomization: no oral anticoagulant; international normalized ratio <2.0 with VKA treatment; or <80% compliance with non-VKA oral anticoagulant treatment).

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Background: Coagulation factor XI (FXI) contributes to the development of thrombosis but appears to play only a minor role in hemostasis and is therefore an attractive anticoagulant drug target.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacokinetic properties of BAY 1213790, a fully human immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 antibody targeting activated coagulation FXI (FXIa), in healthy men.

Methods: In this phase 1, single-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study, 83 healthy Caucasian men were randomized 4:1 to receive a single 60-minute intravenous infusion of BAY 1213790 (0.

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CMML (chronic myelomonocytic leukemia) belongs to the group of myeloid neoplasms known as myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative diseases. In some patients with a history of CMML, the disease transforms to acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML). There are no specific treatment options for patients suffering from CMML except for supportive care and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors in patients with advanced disease.

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Immunotoxins are promising targeted therapeutic agents comprising an antibody-based ligand that specifically binds to diseased cells, and a pro-apoptotic protein. Toxic components from bacteria or plants can trigger a neutralizing immune response, so that human effector molecules are more suitable. In this context, the protease granzyme B has been successfully tested in cytotoxicity assays against different cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

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Human granzyme B (hGB) is a serine protease involved in immune-mediated apoptosis. Its cytotoxicity makes it potentially applicable in cancer therapy. However, the effectiveness of hGB can be hampered by the cytosolic expression of a natural protein inhibitor, human Serpin B9 (hSB9).

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