Eptifibatide: A cyclic peptide that selectively inhibits platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa

Platelets play a key role in the pathogenesis of coronary syndromes. Glycop rotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/ IIIa), also known as integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3), fa cilitates platelet aggregation through the binding of fibrinogen. In recent years, GPIIb/IIIa has become the target of new therapeutic strategies aime d at improving the efficacy of current antiplatelet therapy. Eptifibatide i s a small cyclic heptapeptide that has shown high specificity and affinity for GPIIb/IIIa and has a short plasma half-life with a rapid onset of antip latelet action and rapid reversibility of action when treatment is stopped. Two large clinical trials (IMPACT II and PURSUIT) have demonstrated that e ptifibatide significantly reduced coronary events in patients without incre asing the risk of bleeding complications. Eptifibatide appears to be a more refined alternative to current antithrombotic therapies. (C) 2000 Prous Sc ience. All rights reserved.