Anticoagulant Drug Development Services for Stroke

Ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot that blocks an artery in the brain. When the risk of bleeding is low, the use of anticoagulants to prevent blood clots can improve outcomes. Ace Therapeutics is a stroke-focused preclinical CRO offering clients one-stop anticoagulant drug development services. We have strong capabilities and technologies in the field of stroke.

Introduction to Anticoagulants for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Direct oral anticoagulant drugs, including dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, are commonly used to prevent thromboembolism in various populations. Early use of anticoagulant drugs may reduce the volume of infarcted brain tissue by decreasing the spread of intracerebral arterial thrombus, thereby reducing neurologic deficits and the risk of disability and death in patients with acute ischemic stroke. In addition, anticoagulant drugs may inhibit the formation of new arterial and venous thrombi, thereby reducing the risk of early recurrent thromboembolic stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Emergency anticoagulant drugs have been used in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, but their efficacy, type of anticoagulant drug, route of administration, and duration of therapy need further study.

Fig. 1. The association between direct oral anticoagulant concentration upon acute stroke and stroke outcome. (Lin et al., 2023)

Our Anticoagulant Drug Development Services

Ace Therapeutics offers customized services for the development of anticoagulant drugs for stroke. Our team of experts with years of drug development experience can help you design safe and effective anticoagulant drugs and evaluate their preclinical efficacy in stroke treatment. By integrating innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, we accelerate the development of stroke anticoagulant drugs by enabling rapid target identification, drug design, and lead compound optimization.

Design and Optimization of Anticoagulant drugs

We can identify and validate molecular pathways and proteins that play a key role in stroke thrombosis. Our medicinal chemists use rational drug design strategies to develop small molecules that selectively inhibit the coagulation process. We use our expertise in structure-based drug design, computer-aided drug discovery, and molecular modeling to design molecules with optimal pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.

In Vitro Analysis of Anticoagulant Drugs

We offer a range of in vitro assays for the evaluation of anticoagulant drugs.

• Coagulation assays: Measure the time it takes for plasma to clot after the addition of anticoagulant drugs.
• Chromogenic assays: Quantify the ability of a specific coagulation factor or inhibitor to cause a color change in a substrate.
• Platelet aggregation assays: Measure platelet aggregation in response to various agonists (e.g., ADP, collagen).
• Flow cytometry: Assess platelet activation markers (e.g., P-selectin) on the platelet surface.
• Thromboelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM): Provide a comprehensive analysis of clot formation and lysis in whole blood.
• Cell-based assays: Evaluate the effects of anticoagulant drugs on endothelial cells, platelets, and other blood cells.
• Fibrinolysis assays: Measure the degradation of blood clots, providing information on the balance between clotting and fibrinolysis.

Evaluation of Anticoagulant Drugs in Animal Stroke Models

We provide animal stroke models to evaluate the efficacy of anticoagulant drugs. Anticoagulant drugs are administered at the time, dose, and route of administration according to the client's needs. In addition, we can evaluate the brain toxicity and distribution of anticoagulant drugs in the brain.

• Behavioral testing: Baton twirling test, grip test, and open-field test to assess motor coordination, strength, and activity level.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Assess infarct volume, location, and blood-brain barrier integrity.
• Computed tomography (CT): Detect hemorrhagic transformation.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET): Assess cerebral blood flow and metabolism.
• Biomarker analysis: Measurement of inflammatory cytokines, coagulation factors, and other relevant biomarkers in blood and brain tissue.
• Hematologic parameters: Monitor changes in coagulation parameters, platelet counts, and other relevant blood tests.
• Measure the concentrations of anticoagulant drugs in plasma and brain tissue.

Types of Anticoagulant Drugs We Can Develop

We can help clients develop different types of anticoagulant drugs. They have predictable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, a wide therapeutic window, a low dose threshold for efficacy, and a high dose threshold for bleeding complications.

• Heparins
• Heparinoids
• Oral anticoagulant drugs
• Thrombin inhibitors

Ace Therapeutics offers customized anticoagulant drug development services to help clients develop safe and effective anticoagulant drugs for stroke. We work closely with our partners to develop a comprehensive strategy that meets their goals and timelines. If you are interested in our services, please do not hesitate to contact us!

1. Lin, S. Y., et al. (2023). The association between direct oral anticoagulant concentration upon acute stroke and stroke outcome. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 113, 31-37.