lepirudin: profile and news

New anticoagulants are under development Apr 20, 2006
Two parenteral direct thrombin inhibitors, lepirudin and argatroban, have FDA approval for the management of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.". ... - Therapeutics Daily (subscription) (press release),

Other information

Indication
For treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Pharmacology
Used to break up clots and to reduce thrombocytopenia. Hirudin binds to thrombin and prevents thrombus or clot formation. Hirudin is a highly potent, selective, and essentially irreversible inhibitor of thrombin and clot-bond thrombin. Hirudin requires no cofactor for its anticoagulant action.

Mechanism Of Action
Hirudin forms a stable non-covalent complex with alpha-thrombin, thereby abolishing its ability to cleave fibrinogen and initiate the clotting cascade.

Drug Category
Anticoagulants; Antithrombotic Agents; unclassified therapeutic agents (92:00.00)

Brand Names/Synonyms
Hirudin variant-1;Lepirudin; Refludan (Berlex Labs)

Dosage Forms
POWDER FOR SOLUTION

Absorption
Not Available

Interactions
Not Available

Chemical IUPAC Name
Hirudo medicinalis hirudin (variant 1)

Chemical Formula
C288H448N80O110S6

Half Life
~1.3 hours

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
BIOD00024

CAS Registry Number
120993-53-5