Tirofiban

The Uses of Tirofiban

Tirofiban (Aggrastatt, MK-0383; L-700,462) is a parenteral, highly specific, and potent GPIIb/IIIa antagonist that was approved for patient use in 1998 for the treatment of unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction.
Tirofiban is a nonpeptide GP IIb/IIIa antagonist that binds reversibly to IIb/IIIa receptors. Tirofiban is a non-peptide reversible antagonist of the platelet integrin glycoprotein (GP) IIbIIIa receptor used as an antiplatelet drug.
Tirofiban is a small molecule inhibitor of the protein-protein interaction between fibrinogen and the platelet integrin receptor GP IIb/IIIa and is the first drug candidate whose origins can be traced to a pharmacophore-based virtual screening lead.

Background

Tirofiban prevents the blood from clotting during episodes of chest pain or a heart attack, or while the patient is undergoing a procedure to treat a blocked coronary artery. It is a non-peptide reversible antagonist of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor, and inhibits platelet aggregation.

Indications

For treatment, in combination with heparin, of acute coronary syndrome, including patients who are to be managed medically and those undergoing PTCA or atherectomy.

Pharmacokinetics

Tirofiban prevents the blood from clotting during episodes of chest pain or a heart attack, or while the patient is undergoing a procedure to treat a blocked coronary artery. It is a non-peptide antagonist of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor, and inhibits platelet aggregation. When administered intravenously, tirofiban inhibits ex vivo platelet aggregation in a dose- and concentration-dependent manner. When given according to the recommended regimen, >90% inhibition is attained by the end of the 30-minute infusion. Tirofiban has been recently shown in patients with unstable angina to reduce ischemic events at 48 hours following infusion when compared to standard heparin therapy.

Metabolism

Metabolism appears to be limited.