Merck Patent Gmbh

Sanofi-a Ventis Deutschland Gmbh

Fresenius Kabi Deutschland Gmbh

Jürgen Hemberger

Bernhard Scheuble

Olaf Zeckai

Klaus Sommermeyer

Jan-Peter Spengler

Wolfram Eichner

Jasmin Groeschke

Matthias Scharf

Hanno Juhnke

Michael Schrack

Wolfgang Strittmatter

Uwe Hofmann

Cornelius Jungheinrich

Roland Scharpf

Katharina Lutterbeck

Detlef Güssow

Zisi Fotev

Michael Fischer

Anne BÖKER

Michele Orlando

Sven Frie

A naturally occurring protein isolated from the saliva of the medicinal leechis described which strongly binds to collagen thus acting as an inhibitor of natural platelet adhesion to collagen. The protein has a molecular weight of about 12,000, an acidic isoelectric point and contains six cysteins. The protein was sequenced and the gene was cloned from acDNA-library. Procedures for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques are disclosed. The recombinant and the natural occurring proteins are potent inhibitors of collagen-dependent platelet adhesion and therefore useful for the therapeutic treatment of various conditions related to heart disease and diseases of the circulation system. Furthermore, the protein is useful for coating natural or artificial collagen surfaces in order to render them nonadhesive for cells and prevent the activation of cells.

Protein for blocking platelet adhesion

A naturally occurring protein isolated from the saliva of the medicinal leechis described which strongly binds to collagen thus acting as an inhibitor of natural platelet adhesion to collagen. The protein has a molecular weight of about 12,000, an acidic isoelectric point and contains six cysteins. The protein was sequenced and the gene was cloned from acDNA-library. Procedures for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques are disclosed. The recombinant and the natural occurring proteins are potent inhibitors of collagen-dependent platelet adhesion and therefore useful for the therapeutic treatment of various conditions related to hard disease and diseases of the circulation system. Furthermore the protein is useful for coating natural or artificial collagen surfaces in order to render them nonadhesive for cells and prevent the activation of cells.

Growing community of inventors

Aschaffenburg, Germany

Jürgen Hemberger