Antistasin
Factor Xa inhibitor — prototype molecule that inspired the entire DOAC drug class (rivaroxaban, apixaban).
Mechanistic Evidence Box
Preclinical / mechanistic- Page type
- Compound profile
- Evidence type
- Factor Xa inhibitor — prototype molecule that inspired the entire DOAC drug class (rivaroxaban, apixaban).
- Evidence level
- In vitro
- Drug vs leech
- Purified natural compound
- Safety domains
- Bleeding · Allergy / anaphylaxis
Clinical translation limit
Antistasin itself is NOT an FDA-approved drug. Its discovery inspired the chemically distinct synthetic DOACs (rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban), which are separate small-molecule drugs with their own RCT evidence base. Antistasin's preclinical mechanism does NOT establish clinical efficacy of whole medicinal-leech therapy.
Molecular Profile
- Category
- Anticoagulant
- Evidence tier
- Tier A — FDA-approved derivative
- Molecular weight
- 15,000 Da
- Source species
- Haementeria officinalis (Mexican leech)
- Discovered
- 1988 · Tuszynski et al.
- PDB structures
- 1SKZ
- Derived FDA-approved drug
- Conceptual ancestor: rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis), edoxaban (Savaysa)
Biological Targets
- → Factor Xa
Key Citations
- Tuszynski GP et al. (1987), J Biol Chem
External Resources
Related Anticoagulant Compounds
Hirudin
The most potent natural thrombin inhibitor — and the molecular template for three FDA-approved direct thrombin inhibitor drugs.
Ghilanten
Factor Xa inhibitor with anti-metastatic activity in animal cancer models — translational dual-use compound.
Lefaxin
Factor Xa inhibitor with anti-inflammatory properties.
Hirudin-PA
Hirudin variant from Hirudinaria manillensis with distinct kinetics.