Further Research Confirms That Verseon’s New Class Of Anticoagulants Reduce Bleeding Risk Compared To NOACs By Preserving Platelet Function
Fremont, Calif.—While NOACs are increasingly replacing warfarin to treat thromboembolism – blood clots – they have an increased risk of bleeding and bleeding complications, which can be life-threatening[1]. Preclinical research presented at the ASH (American Society of Hematology) Annual Meeting on Monday demonstrated that multiple novel anticoagulants from Verseon are as effective as the NOACs at preventing thrombosis, but with a much-reduced bleeding risk.
The research presented by Verseon’s Dr Mohan Sivaraja, Associate Director of Discovery Biology, showed that Verseon’s new class of direct thrombin inhibitors (VE-DTIs) are able to preserve platelet function while still blocking fibrinogen cleavage, a primary event in blood clot formation[2].
Platelet function plays an important role in wound healing, healthy tissue growth, and hemostasis (stopping of bleeding). The observed preservation of platelet function indicates a reason why the VE-DTIs have a significantly reduced bleeding risk when compared to current NOACs.
The presentation detailed a number of in vivo tests, including the arteriovenous shunt and thrombin-induced thromboembolism models, which demonstrate that the VE-DTIs effectively prevent thrombosis while preserving platelet function. This is further reinforced by in vitro research in which both animal and human blood was put through a number of assays, which confirm that Verseon’s compounds leave platelet function almost unaffected.
NOACs, currently the most commonly used anticoagulants, are associated with a high bleeding risk and are known to strongly inhibit thrombin-mediated platelet activation, which affects platelet function[3]. Verseon’s drug candidates are up to 900 fold less potent in the in vitro inhibition of platelet activation when compared to the NOACs, while they effectively block fibrinogen cleavage.
“This unique feature of our novel class of thrombin inhibitors provides a biological explanation for their low bleeding liability,” said Dr. Mohan Sivaraja. “These encouraging results further establish the distinctive pharmacology of our compounds and could lead to improved blood thinners.”
Verseon’s new class of anticoagulants has been developed using its proprietary, computationally driven drug discovery platform. This platform can generate better drugs through the design of novel chemical matter. In addition to its anticoagulant program, Verseon currently also has programs on diabetic macular edema and oncology in preclinical testing, all with multiple novel drug candidates.
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About Verseon
Verseon Corporation (www.verseon.com, AIM: VSN) is a technology-based pharmaceutical company that employs its proprietary, computational drug discovery platform to develop novel therapeutics that are unlikely to be found using conventional methods. The Company is applying its platform to a growing drug pipeline and currently has three active drug programs in the areas of anticoagulation, diabetic macular edema, and oncology.
The research presented by Verseon’s Dr Mohan Sivaraja, Associate Director of Discovery Biology, showed that Verseon’s new class of direct thrombin inhibitors (VE-DTIs) are able to preserve platelet function while still blocking fibrinogen cleavage, a primary event in blood clot formation[2].
Platelet function plays an important role in wound healing, healthy tissue growth, and hemostasis (stopping of bleeding). The observed preservation of platelet function indicates a reason why the VE-DTIs have a significantly reduced bleeding risk when compared to current NOACs.
The presentation detailed a number of in vivo tests, including the arteriovenous shunt and thrombin-induced thromboembolism models, which demonstrate that the VE-DTIs effectively prevent thrombosis while preserving platelet function. This is further reinforced by in vitro research in which both animal and human blood was put through a number of assays, which confirm that Verseon’s compounds leave platelet function almost unaffected.
NOACs, currently the most commonly used anticoagulants, are associated with a high bleeding risk and are known to strongly inhibit thrombin-mediated platelet activation, which affects platelet function[3]. Verseon’s drug candidates are up to 900 fold less potent in the in vitro inhibition of platelet activation when compared to the NOACs, while they effectively block fibrinogen cleavage.
“This unique feature of our novel class of thrombin inhibitors provides a biological explanation for their low bleeding liability,” said Dr. Mohan Sivaraja. “These encouraging results further establish the distinctive pharmacology of our compounds and could lead to improved blood thinners.”
Verseon’s new class of anticoagulants has been developed using its proprietary, computationally driven drug discovery platform. This platform can generate better drugs through the design of novel chemical matter. In addition to its anticoagulant program, Verseon currently also has programs on diabetic macular edema and oncology in preclinical testing, all with multiple novel drug candidates.
-Ends-
About Verseon
Verseon Corporation (www.verseon.com, AIM: VSN) is a technology-based pharmaceutical company that employs its proprietary, computational drug discovery platform to develop novel therapeutics that are unlikely to be found using conventional methods. The Company is applying its platform to a growing drug pipeline and currently has three active drug programs in the areas of anticoagulation, diabetic macular edema, and oncology.