In an important step forward in medical research, the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University (QU) Health Sector has conducted a study that provides new insights into how the blood thinner rivaroxaban works in people with different body weights. The study examined how the body absorbs, processes, and eliminates the drug. The evidence from this clinical trial demonstrated that after an oral 20 mg dose, rivaroxaban behaves similarly in obese compared to non-obese participants.
Dr. Majdoleen Al-Alawneh, PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, conducted this study as part of her PhD project, with significant contributions from her supervisors, Prof. Ahmed Awaisu, Professor and Department Head, Clinical Pharmacy and Practice, and Dr. Ousama Rachid, Associate Professor Pharmacokinetics at QU. The study included 36 participants divided into two groups: obese individuals (BMI of 35 or higher) and non-obese individuals (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9). Both groups were given rivaroxaban after eating a standardized, high-fat, high-calorie breakfast and drinking 200 ml of water. The goal was to investigate how weight influences the drug's effectiveness and absorption. Blood samples were collected nine times over two days, and urine samples were taken at different points over 18 hours. These samples were analyzed to see how the drug was processed in each group.
The study discovered slight variations in the body's processing of rivaroxaban between obese and non-obese individuals, yet these variations were insignificant enough to alter the dosage. This implies that everyone, irrespective of body weight, can safely and effectively use rivaroxaban without the need to adjust the dose. Dr. Al-Alawneh, who led the study, explained, “Obesity is a growing global health condition, and our study helps fill a critical gap in understanding how a novel blood thinner (anticoagulant), rivaroxaban, should be administered to this population. The findings are promising for maintaining consistent and effective care."
The research team plans to extend their study to include people with extreme obesity. They are also using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to develop a model based on thousands of virtual participants, with the aim of exploring how extreme obesity influences the behavior of the drug. Additionally, they are recruiting patients from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) hospital who are taking rivaroxaban to study its effects in real-life conditions.
The study was funded by QU student grants and the QU Health Sector pump-priming grant and was conducted in collaboration with the International Centre for Bioavailability, Pharmaceutical, and Clinical Research in Egypt. This center is known for its high-quality research and has conducted over 310 studies in partnership with international pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and universities.
For more information about the study, please contact Dr. Majdoleen Al-Alawneh, College of Pharmacy: ma1903150@qu.edu.qa