Avidin for switching off anticoagulant drugs

Over a century ago, researchers discovered heparin. Since then, scientists have continuously improved anticoagulant drugs. These drugs now treat a broad range of pathological situations such as atrial fibrillation, thrombosis, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism.

Heparin indeed displays reduced bioavailability and a poor pharmacokinetic profile. Besides, this therapeutic approach carries inherent bleeding complication risks. Recently, scientists developed potent reversible anticoagulants with long half-lives. These innovations offer patients the comfort of once-weekly administration with the security of a reversion system (see Petitou et al., 2009 for review).

This system is based on the avidin/biotin complex formation; by conjugating a biotine to anticoagulant drugs (ie Idraparinux and EP42675; Figure), activity of resultant compounds (named respectively Idrabiotaparinux and EP217609) can be quenched by a simple avidin injection in case of bleeding or hemorrhage. In this view, in Phase I and Phase III trials, a 100mg avidin infusion was shown to completely and rapidly abrogate Idrabiotaparinux effects in both healthy subjects and patients with deep vein thrombosis (Paty et al., 2010).

Remarkably, it was also shown that avidin is well tolerated and its administration does not induce hypersensitivity reactions or clinically significant immunological abnormalities. Hence, this system offers security to patients treated with anticoagulants and, also, opens new avenues for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies based on avidin/biotin complexation.

Paty I, Trellu M, Destors JM, Cortez P, Boëlle E, Sanderink G. 2010. Reversibility of the anti-FXa activity of idrabiotaparinux (biotinylated idraparinux) by intravenous avidin infusion. J Thromb Haemost 8(4):722-9.

Petitou M, Nancy-Portebois V, Dubreucq G, Motte V, Meuleman D, de Kort M, van Boeckel CA, Vogel GM, Wisse JA. 2009. From heparin to EP217609: the long way to a new pentasaccharide-based neutralisable anticoagulant with an unprecedented pharmacological profile. Thromb Haemost 102(5):804-10.

Richard S, El Hadri A, Goedheijt S, Heisen M, Vader J, Wiegerinck P, Petitou M. 2011. Synthesis of a stable‐isotope‐labeled biotinylated pentasaccharide conjugate (EP217609), a dual‐effect anticoagulant drug. J. Label Compd. Radiopharm 54: 637-44.