The preclinical profile of SerpinPC: a potential new treatment for hemophilia

The concept of restoring hemostasis by down-tuning anticoagulant pathways holds the promise of treating all forms of hemophilia. Here, we report preclinical efficacy and safety data for SerpinPC, a covalent inhibitor of activated protein C (APC). APC is a serine protease that degrades the enzyme complex that produces thrombin, and its inhibition allows for more thrombin to be produced during the initiation stage of hemostasis. In a hemophilia A (HA) mouse tail clip model, SerpinPC treatment reduced blood loss in a dose- and time-dependent manner to levels comparable with wild-type (WT) mice. SerpinPC was able to treat active bleeds in HA mice and prevented spontaneous internal bleeding when given prophylactically. SerpinPC treatment was not associated with an increased inflammatory response and was well tolerated at high doses in WT animals. SerpinPC is currently being evaluated in individuals with severe hemophilia.