Lead identification of a novel anticoagulant agent targeted against activated factor XII for the prevention of thrombosis without the risk of bleeding associated with current antithrombotics (360G-Wellcome-110373_Z_15_B)

At the University of Leeds, Dr Helen Philippou (PI) and Prof Robert Ariens (Faculty of Medicine and Health), with colleagues (Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences) Dr Richard Foster and Prof Colin Fishwick with Prof Gregory Lip (University of Birmingham) have secured a £3,021,002 Wellcome Trust Seeding Drug Discovery award to develop new safer anticoagulants with minimal risk of bleeding. The medicines available to treat patients who suffer from an increased risk of blood clotting are effective but carry a significant risk of causing bleeding. Current treatments therefore involve a balance between reducing blood clots with inducing bleeding. The objective of this proposal is to discover highly specific compounds which block a protein, Factor XIIa, which is involved in clot formation, and for which there is good evidence to suggest inhibition will not cause bleeding. This will allow patients to be treated more safely with minimal risk of bleeding without needing therapeutic monitoring. The aim is to produce an agent which will be given by mouth daily.