Pharmacologic inhibition of platelet vWF-GPIb alpha interaction prevents coronary artery thrombosis.

Under high shear arterial blood flow von Willebrand Factor (vWF) binds the platelet receptor glycoprotein (GP) Ibalpha, leading to platelet adhesion, activation and thrombosis. Blockade of vWF-GPIb alpha interactions by GPG-290 was investigated in a canine model of coronary artery thrombosis alone and in combination with clopidogrel. GPG-290 (100 microg/kg, n=6; 500 microg/kg, n=6) prolonged time to thrombotic occlusion (TTO) to 105+/-34 and 156+/-23 (p<0.