Lepirudin


Lepirudin is an anticoagulant that functions as a direct thrombin inhibitor.
Brand name: Refludan, Generic: Lepirudin rDNA for injection.
Lepirudin is a recombinant hirudin derived from yeast cells. It is almost identical to
hirudin extracted from Hirudo medicinalis. It differs by the substitution of leucine for isoleucine at the N-terminal end of the molecule and the absence of a sulfate group on the tyrosine at position 63.
Lepirudin may be used as an anticoagulant when heparins are contraindicated because of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Market withdrawal

Bayer announced that it ceased the production of lepirudin on May 31, 2012. At the time of the announcement, the company expected that supply from wholesalers was going to be depleted by mid-2013.