MULTIMERIZED SINGLE DOMAIN ANTIBODY LIGANDS OF PROTHROMBIN AS INHIBITORS OF BLOOD AND EXTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION

摘要

A multimer of an antibody VHH domain, where the VHH domain has binding affinity to prothrombin, is useful for inhibiting generation of thrombin from prothrombin. Such a multimer is useful in a method of inhibiting thrombin production in a blood stream or in a tissue whereby the multimer is either introduced into the blood stream or into the tissue directly. Inhibiting thrombin production from prothrombin leads to inhibiting blood or extra-vascular coagulation. Thus, such multimers are particularly useful for inhibiting coagulation in applications where blood clotting can lead to fibrin deposition and thrombotic complications, for example, at sites of vascular or tissue injury, such as atherosclerotic lesions and arthritic joints.