[From heparin to synthetic antithrombotic oligosaccharides]

In the early eighties, following breakthroughs in oligosaccharide chemistry, we achieved the total chemical synthesis of pentasaccharides related to the antithrombin-binding domain in heparin. Selective inhibitors of coagulation factor Xa, thus obtained, represent a new class of efficient antithrombotic drugs. In a further step, we have designed and synthesised oligosaccharides (pentadeca--to eicosasaccharides), comprising an antithrombin binding domain prolonged by a thrombin binding domain. These compounds inhibit both factor Xa and thrombin, in the presence of antithrombin, while they are devoid of undesirable non-specific interactions, particularly with platelet factor 4 (PF4). The efficacy of these new synthetic antithrombotics, with a unique biological profile, will be evaluated in clinical trials.