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Oral heparin: status review.
Ehud Arbit1, Michael Goldberg, Isabel Gomez-Orellana
1Emisphere Technologies Inc, 765 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA. earbit@emisphere.com
Thrombosis Journal
|May 12, 2006
Summary
A new oral formulation of unfractionated heparin combined with SNAC shows promise as a convenient alternative to injectable anticoagulants. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety for patients.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Thrombosis Research
Background:
- Unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) are primary parenteral antithrombotic agents.
- Parenteral administration poses challenges for extended out-of-hospital treatment.
- Development of oral anticoagulants is a significant unmet need, offering an alternative to vitamin K antagonists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an oral dosage form of unfractionated heparin (UFH).
- To enhance gastrointestinal absorption of UFH using novel drug delivery technology.
- To evaluate the efficacy of oral heparin-SNAC as an antithrombotic agent.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a novel drug delivery technology to facilitate gastrointestinal epithelial transport.
- Combining unfractionated heparin with the carrier molecule sodium N-(8 [2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino) caprylate (SNAC).
- Conducting preclinical and clinical studies to assess absorption and efficacy.
Main Results:
- The combination of UFH with SNAC significantly increased gastrointestinal absorption of heparin.
- Preclinical and clinical data suggest that oral heparin-SNAC can achieve a clinically effective antithrombotic effect.
- Further studies are ongoing to confirm these findings.
Conclusions:
- Oral heparin-SNAC represents a novel approach to antithrombotic therapy.
- This formulation offers a potentially more convenient alternative to parenteral heparin administration.
- Additional clinical trials are required to validate the therapeutic potential of oral heparin-SNAC.