A bloodstream scavenger which sweeps up the debris of damaged
cells might stop the formation of deadly blood clots without
triggering an equally threatening bleed. The compound – PAMAM
G-3 – may be the first in a new class of drugs aimed at
addressing this difficult challenge. Researchers from Duke
University Medical Centre report that PAMAM G-3 – a nucleic
acid-binding polymer (NABP) – prevents activation of the process
that leads to the formation of dangerous blood clots while
avoiding factors essential to normal clot formation. “In the
thrombosis (clotting) space, the holy grail has been to make
something anti-thrombotic that doesn’t significantly increase
your chance of haemorrhage or bleeding,” said Bruce A Sullenger,
senior author of the study published in Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences. “We think this is a promising
example of a type of compound that could do that. If it can be
clinically developed and exhibit the same properties in humans,
clearly that would improve safety and outcome