Tecarfarin is in clinical development for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients requiring long-term blood thinning treatment. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) refers to a blood clot that develops in a vein. There are two types of VTE: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which refers to a blood clot in a vein and pulmonary embolism (PE) which refers to a blood clot that has broken free and travelled to the lungs.. Some patients who have had a VTE require long- term treatment with blood-thinning medication to reduce the risk of VTE recurrence.
Tecarfarin, a vitamin K reductase, is given by oral administration and works by blocking the liver from using vitamin K to make clotting factors. Clotting factors work with blood cells called platelets that trigger the clotting process to form a blood clot. Stopping the activation of these vitamin K dependent clotting factors means the blood takes much longer to clot so there is a decreased risk of VTE. Tecarfarin works in the same way as warfarin, which is the current best treatment option for preventing VTE, but is expected to be safer and deliver more predictable clotting. If licensed, tecarfarin would offer an additional treatment option for preventing VTE in patients who require long-term anticoagulation therapy.
Drugs
December 2020
Deferiprone for transfusional iron overload in sickle cell disease and other anaemias – First Line
Deferiprone is in clinical development for patients with sickle-cell disorder (SCD) and other anaemias that are suffering from iron overload due to frequent transfusions to increase their red blood cell count. SCD is a group of inherited disorders where the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle”. The sickle red blood cells die early, and patients often require blood transfusions. Iron overload is an effect of frequent transfusions in SCD. Excess iron in the body can be toxic to major organs like the heart and liver.