Bivalirudin

General information

Bivalirudin is a 20-amino acid synthetic polypeptide analogue of hirudin. Once bound, bivalirudin is cleaved by thrombin, thereby reducing its antithrombotic activity. Bivalirudin has a half-life of 25 minutes after intravenous injection and is partially cleared renally; there is no antidote. It has been successfully used in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia [ ].