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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Rapid Point-of-Care Assay of Enoxaparin Anticoagulant Efficacy in Whole Blood
Published on: October 12, 2012
Oral delivery of heparin: SNAC and related formulations
Graham Pineo1, Russell Hull, Victor Marder
1Thrombosis Research Unit, Foothills Hospital, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta, Canada.
Abstract:
Unfractionated heparin is one of the most commonly used pharmacological agents in hospital practice. The use of this agent is inconvenient in that it must be given parenterally. Current research is directed at development of oral antithrombotic agents that will not require laboratory monitoring of the antithrombotic effect. This has stimulated interest in the development of orally active heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin. It has recently been shown that the addition of SNAC [sodium N-(8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylate] to heparin enables absorption of therapeutic levels of heparin. Studies to date have shown that oral heparin-SNAC is an effective agent for the prevention of venous thromboembolism following total hip replacement, and this should stimulate further studies with this agent.
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