Decorsin
RGD-containing peptide inhibiting platelet GP IIb/IIIa receptor — eptifibatide ancestor.
Mechanistic Evidence Box
Preclinical / mechanistic- Page type
- Compound profile
- Evidence type
- RGD-containing peptide inhibiting platelet GP IIb/IIIa receptor — eptifibatide ancestor.
- Evidence level
- In vitro
- Drug vs leech
- Purified natural compound
- Safety domains
- Bleeding
Clinical translation limit
Decorsin itself is NOT an FDA-approved drug. The synthetic peptidomimetic eptifibatide draws partial structural inspiration from decorsin and snake-venom disintegrins, but is a chemically distinct compound with its own clinical evidence base. Decorsin's preclinical mechanism does NOT establish clinical efficacy of whole-leech therapy.
Molecular Profile
- Category
- Antiplatelet
- Evidence tier
- Tier A — FDA-approved derivative
- Molecular weight
- 4,400 Da
- Source species
- Macrobdella decora (North American leech)
- Discovered
- 1990 · Seymour et al.
- Derived FDA-approved drug
- Conceptual ancestor: eptifibatide (Integrilin)
Biological Targets
- → platelet integrin αIIbβ3 (GP IIb/IIIa)
Key Citations
- Seymour JL et al. (1990), J Biol Chem
External Resources
Related Antiplatelet Compounds
Calin
Anti-platelet adhesion protein that blocks von Willebrand factor–collagen binding.
Saratin
Anti-platelet adhesion protein blocking collagen-mediated platelet activation.
Ornatin
RGD-peptide GP IIb/IIIa antagonist — sister molecule to decorsin from a different leech species.
Eptifibatide
Cyclic heptapeptide GP IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist — FDA approved 1998. Structural inspiration: leech decorsin.