Claims for Patent: 5,587,360

Summary for Patent: 5,587,360

Title:	Platelet adhesion inhibitor
Abstract:	The inhibitor is protein derived leech tissue or leech secretions (for example, from Hirudo medicinalis), which is capable of binding to native collagen, in such a way that substantially no cleavage breakdown products of coilagen molecules occur on SDS-PAGE. The protein substantially inhibits collagen-induced platelet aggregation or adhesion, has a molecular weight of 60-70 kilodaltons in reduced form and has optimum activity at pH 8.0.
Inventor(s):	Sawyer; Roy T. (Dyfed, GB)
Assignee:	Merck Patent GmbH (Darmstadt, DE)
Application Number:	08/039,276
Patent Claims:	1. A purified protein isolated from the leech species Hirudo medicinalis, said purified protein being substantially free of leech-derived collagenase, capable of binding to native collagen in such a way that substantially no cleavage breakdown products of collagen molecules occur on SDS-PAGE, capable of inhibiting collagen-induced platelet aggregation or adhesion, having a molecular weight in the range of 60-70 kilodaltons in a reduced form and exhibiting optimum activity in inhibiting collagen-induced platelet aggregation at a pH of about 8.0 in the presence of co-factors Ca.sup.+2 and Mg.sup.+2, said protein being obtained from secretions or extract of the tissue of said leech species by performing chromatographic purification steps using buffers containing about 12% ethanol to prevent protein loss by adsorption and removing said ethanol to obtain said purified protein. 2. A method of preventing platelet aggregation or adhesions on thrombogenic matrices used in vitro, comprising coating said thrombogenic matrices with the protein of claim 1. 3. A pharmaceutical or veterinary formulation comprising a protein according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 4. A formulation of claim 3 further comprising a thrombolytic agent. 5. A formulation of claim 4 wherein said thrombolytic agent is selected from the group consisting of a plasminogen activator and hementin. 6. A formulation of claim 3 further comprising an anti-coagulant. 7. A formulation of claim 6 wherein said anti-coagulant is selected from the group consisting of hirudin and heparin. 8. A formulation of claim 3 for treatment of pathological conditions involving platelet aggregation or adhesion. 9. A formulation of claim 3 for preventing platelet aggregation or adhesion. 10. A formulation of claim 3 for use in maintaining prolonged bleeding following plastic surgery or microsurgery. 11. An implantable or extracorporeal device for use in contact with body fluids, said device having a protein according to claim 1 immobilized thereon wherein said protein renders the device surface substantially biocompatible and thromboresistant. 12. A coating for medical devices comprising the formulation of claim 3. 13. A coating of claim 12 wherein said medical devices are selected from the group consisting of indwelling catheters, vascular shafts, artificial organs and sutures.

Details for Patent 5,587,360

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Smith & Nephew, Inc.	SANTYL	collagenase	Ointment	101995	06/04/1965		2013-12-24