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Unfractionated heparin(UFH)
Unfractionated heparin inhibits blood coagulation by enhancing the activity of antithrombin III, which inactivates thrombin and other clotting factors.
Unfractionated heparin inhibits blood coagulation by enhancing the activity of antithrombin III, which inactivates thrombin and other clotting factors. Used for Acute venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism), Acute coronary syndrome, Atrial fibrillation for stroke prevention.
At a glance
| Generic name | Unfractionated heparin(UFH) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Standard Unfractionated heparin |
| Sponsor | Beijing Chao Yang Hospital |
| Drug class | Anticoagulant |
| Target | Antithrombin III (enhancer); Factor IIa (thrombin) and Factor Xa (indirect targets) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Cardiovascular |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
UFH is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan that binds to antithrombin III and dramatically increases its ability to inhibit Factor IIa (thrombin) and Factor Xa. This prevents the formation of fibrin clots and the extension of existing thrombi. UFH has a rapid onset of action and a short half-life, making it suitable for acute anticoagulation in hospital settings.
Approved indications
- Acute venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism)
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Atrial fibrillation for stroke prevention
- Prevention of thrombosis during cardiac surgery and extracorporeal circulation
Common side effects
- Bleeding
- Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
- Thrombosis (paradoxical, in HIT)
- Osteoporosis (with prolonged use)
- Hyperkalemia
Key clinical trials
- Ultrasound-facilitated, Catheter-directed, Thrombolysis in Intermediate-high Risk Pulmonary Embolism (PHASE4)
- AntiThrombotic Therapy to Ameliorate Clinical Complications in Community Acquired Pneumonia (PHASE3)
- Safety of Antithrombotic Heparin Proteoglycan Mimetic APAC in Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease and Chronic Limb-threatening Ischemia (PHASE2)
- Adaptive Platform Trial for Personnalisation of Sepsis Treatment in Children and Adults: a Multi-national, Treatable Traits-guided, Adaptive, Exploratory, Bayesian Basket Trial (PHASE2)
- Impact of Pre-Hospital Heparin Loading in STEMI Patients for Primary PCI: The HELP-PCI 2 Trial (NA)
- HEPARINS: INTERFERENCE IN ARGATROBAN MEASUREMENT
- Comparison of Two Pulmonary Embolism Treatments (NA)
- Nebulised Heparin in Patients With Severe COVID-19 (PHASE2, PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Unfractionated heparin(UFH) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Unfractionated heparin(UFH) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Beijing Chao Yang Hospital portfolio CI