Whitmania pigra Hirudin
First documented hirudin / hirudin-like factor family in a non-hematophagous leech — Müller 2022 thrombin-inhibitory characterization of W. pigra salivary transcripts.
Mechanistic Evidence Box
Preclinical / mechanistic- Page type
- Compound profile
- Evidence type
- First documented hirudin / hirudin-like factor family in a non-hematophagous leech — Müller 2022 thrombin-inhibitory characterization of W. pigra salivary transcripts.
- Evidence level
- In vitro
- Drug vs leech
- Recombinant (genetically expressed)
- Safety domains
- Bleeding
Clinical translation limit
W. pigra hirudin's in vitro thrombin inhibition does NOT establish clinical efficacy. No FDA-approved derivative exists; W. pigra is a non-hematophagous TCM leech, taxonomically distinct from the FDA-cleared K040187 medicinal leech (H. medicinalis / H. verbana).
Molecular Profile
- Category
- Anticoagulant
- Evidence tier
- Preclinical
- Molecular weight
- 7,000 Da
- Source species
- Whitmania pigra
- Discovered
- 2022 · Müller C et al.
Biological Targets
- → thrombin (Factor IIa)
Key Citations
- Müller C et al. (2022), J Thromb Haemost · PMID 35587545
External Resources
Related Anticoagulant Compounds
Hirudin
The most potent natural thrombin inhibitor — and the molecular template for three FDA-approved direct thrombin inhibitor drugs.
Antistasin
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.