Hematology

In vitro and human plasma studies identified a peptide-based plasmin inhibitor that could help treat bleeding. Chemical synthesis and in vitro testing of analogs of a sunflower cyclic peptide serine protease inhibitor in enzymatic activity assays yielded a compound that inhibited plasmin with a K_i of 0.05 nM. In a human plasma-based assay of degradation of fibrin, which is a substrate of plasmin and a component of clots, the compound decreased fibrin degradation compared with the serine protease inhibitor Trasylol aprotinin. Next steps could include testing the compound in animal models of bleeding.

Bayer AG and Nordic Group market Trasylol for bleeding...