Desirudin
Recombinant hirudin variant — FDA-approved 2003 for prophylaxis of DVT after hip replacement surgery.
Mechanistic Evidence Box
Studied off-label- Page type
- Compound profile
- Evidence type
- Recombinant hirudin variant — FDA-approved 2003 for prophylaxis of DVT after hip replacement surgery.
- Evidence level
- FDA-cleared regulatory context
- Drug vs leech
- Recombinant (genetically expressed)
- Safety domains
- Bleeding · Allergy / anaphylaxis
Clinical translation limit
Desirudin is a yeast-expressed recombinant hirudin drug, FDA-approved for DVT prophylaxis after hip replacement. Its clinical evidence base applies only to the recombinant drug; it does NOT extend to claims about whole medicinal-leech therapy.
Molecular Profile
- Category
- Anticoagulant
- Evidence tier
- Tier A — FDA-approved derivative
- Molecular weight
- 6,964 Da
- Source species
- Recombinant (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
- Discovered
- 1995 · Novartis (later Canyon Pharmaceuticals)
- PDB structures
- 1HUT
- Derived FDA-approved drug
- Iprivask / Revasc (FDA approved April 2003)
Biological Targets
- → thrombin (Factor IIa)
Key Citations
- Eriksson BI et al. (1997), N Engl J Med · PMID 9358126
External Resources
Related Anticoagulant Compounds
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The most potent natural thrombin inhibitor — and the molecular template for three FDA-approved direct thrombin inhibitor drugs.
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Factor Xa inhibitor — prototype molecule that inspired the entire DOAC drug class (rivaroxaban, apixaban).
Ghilanten
Factor Xa inhibitor with anti-metastatic activity in animal cancer models — translational dual-use compound.
Lefaxin
Factor Xa inhibitor with anti-inflammatory properties.