Desmoteplase

Salivary plasminogen activator alpha 1
Identifiers
OrganismDesmodus rotundus
SymbolPLAT
Alt. symbolsBAT-PA; DSPA-5
ATC codeB01
CAS number145137-38-8
DrugBankDB04925
Entrez112321404
HomoloGene717
PDB1A5I
RefSeq (mRNA)XM_024578803.1
RefSeq (Prot)XP_024434571.1
UniProtP98119
Other data
EC number3.4.21.68
ChromosomeUnplaced: 1.98 - 2.01 Mb

Desmoteplase is a novel, highly fibrin-specific "clot-busting" (thrombolytic) drug in development that reached phase III clinical trials. The Danish pharmaceutical company, Lundbeck, owns the worldwide rights to Desmoteplase. In 2009, two large trials (DIAS-3 and DIAS-4) were started to test it as a safe and effective treatment for patients with acute ischaemic stroke. After disappointing results in DIAS-3, DIAS-4 was terminated, and in December 2014 Lundbeck announced that they would stop the development of desmoteplase.[1]

Desmoteplase is a recombinant form of the alpha-1 isoform of DSPA (Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator).

Mode of action

Desmoteplase, a chemical found in the saliva of vampire bats, has the effect of catalysing the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, which is the enzyme responsible for breaking down fibrin blood clots.

Discovery of desmoteplase

As early as in 1932, the saliva of the vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) was known to lead to interference with the haemostatic mechanism of the host animal.[2] In 1991, the DNA coding of four plasminogen activators present in the saliva of the vampire bat was completed. Of the four, recombinant D. rotundus salivary plasminogen activator alpha 1 (rDSPAα1; desmoteplase) was investigated further.[3]

Chemical structure

The structure of desmoteplase is similar to rt-PA (alteplase), but it does not contain the plasmin-sensitive cleavage site and the lysine-binding Kringle 2 domain. As a result, desmoteplase, in comparison to rt-PA, has high fibrin selectivity (100,000- v. 550-fold increase in catalytic activity), an absence of neurotoxicity, and no apparent negative effect on the blood–brain barrier. Desmoteplase also has a half-life of about four hours;[4] rtPA has a terminal plasma half-life of about 5 minutes.

Desmoteplase in acute ischaemic stroke clinical trial program

The two phase II trials DIAS and DEDAS indicated that when intravenous (IV) desmoteplase was administered three to 9 hours after onset of ischaemic stroke symptoms, it was associated with a high rate of reperfusion and a low rate of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage at doses up to 125 μg/kg.[5][6] In the subsequent DIAS-2 trial, the same benefit could not be shown. This could be explained by the inclusion of a substantial number of patients with a mild stroke at baseline and small mismatch volumes associated with no vessel occlusion.[7] Post hoc analyses of the DIAS-2 data and the pooled data of the DIAS, DEDAS and DIAS-2 data showed that patients who had a proximal cerebral vessel occlusion or high-grade stenosis on baseline angiography, had a positive response for desmoteplase.[8]

In 2009, the DIAS-3 and DIAS-4 phase III trials started, each planning to enroll 400 patients worldwide who had had an acute ischaemic stroke. Participants are treated with desmoteplase as an intravenous bolus dose of 90 μg/kg within three to 9 hours after stroke symptom onset. Patients are selected with occlusion or high-grade stenosis (TIMI 0-1) in proximal cerebral arteries as assessed by magnetic resonance or computed tomography angiography. Wherever possible, additional perfusion-weighted imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging assessments will be done.

The outcomes of DIAS-3 and DIAS-4 studies should tell whether desmoteplase is a breakthrough treatment for acute ischaemic stroke. In June 2014, Lundbeck published a press release about the DIAS-3 study revealing neutral results in an intention-to-treat analysis.[9] The proportion of patients presenting good clinical outcome was comparable in the desmoteplase group (51.3%) and in the placebo group (49.8%). Notably, Lundbeck mentioned that, when analysing per protocol, desmoteplase showed an effect relative to placebo. Publication of the final results is still awaited.

After the disappointing results in DIAS-3, the DIAS-4 trial was terminated.[10] In December 2014 Lundbeck announced they would stop the development of desmoteplase and the company made a write-down of 309 million Danish crowns.[1]

Significance of the time window

Current standards of treatment allow for IV rt-PA up to 4.5 hours in ischaemic stroke. After this time window, the benefit is typically thought to be outweighed by the risk of brain haemorrhage.[11] Interarterial approaches are thought to be useful up to six hours. Nevertheless, CT-perfusion scans and MRI-perfusion versus MRI-diffusion demonstrate that even after six hours a significant ischaemic penumbra of brain tissue may be salvageable. Some approaches to this involves mechanical removal of clot (for example the Merci device, the penumbra device and removable stents like Solitaire).[12][13]

If desmoteplase can extend the IV treatment window to 9 hours, this would allow a much larger percentage of ischaemic stroke patients to receive active thrombolytic treatment – including patients who were delayed in getting to the hospital and neurological assessment. This could make a substantial difference in stroke outcomes. A 9-hour treatment window could also have a major impact on the treatment of "wake-up" strokes - where a patient awoke with symptoms, and is not sure whether the stroke occurred within the past 4.5 hours.

References

  1. 1 2 H Lundbeck A/S (2014-12-18). "BRIEF-Lundbeck discontinues development of desmoteplase and narrows 2014 profit guidance". Reuters.
  2. ↑ Hawkey C (November 1967). "Inhibitor of platelet aggregation present in saliva of the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus". British Journal of Haematology. 13 (6): 1014–20. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.1967.tb08870.x. PMID 6075437.
  3. ↑ Schleuning WD (2001). "Vampire bat plasminogen activator DSPA-alpha-1 (desmoteplase): a thrombolytic drug optimized by natural selection". Haemostasis. 31 (3–6): 118–22. doi:10.1159/000048054. PMID 11910176.
  4. ↑ Medcalf RL (January 2012). "Desmoteplase: discovery, insights and opportunities for ischaemic stroke". British Journal of Pharmacology. 165 (1): 75–89. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01514.x. PMC 3252968. PMID 21627637.
  5. ↑ Hacke W, Albers G, Al-Rawi Y, Bogousslavsky J, Davalos A, Eliasziw M, et al. (January 2005). "The Desmoteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke Trial (DIAS): a phase II MRI-based 9-hour window acute stroke thrombolysis trial with intravenous desmoteplase". Stroke. 36 (1): 66–73. doi:10.1161/01.STR.0000149938.08731.2c. PMID 15569863.
  6. ↑ Furlan AJ, Eyding D, Albers GW, Al-Rawi Y, Lees KR, Rowley HA, et al. (May 2006). "Dose Escalation of Desmoteplase for Acute Ischemic Stroke (DEDAS): evidence of safety and efficacy 3 to 9 hours after stroke onset". Stroke. 37 (5): 1227–31. doi:10.1161/01.STR.0000217403.66996.6d. PMID 16574922.
  7. ↑ Hacke W, Furlan AJ, Al-Rawi Y, Davalos A, Fiebach JB, Gruber F, et al. (February 2009). "Intravenous desmoteplase in patients with acute ischaemic stroke selected by MRI perfusion-diffusion weighted imaging or perfusion CT (DIAS-2): a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study". The Lancet. Neurology. 8 (2): 141–50. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70267-9. PMC 2730486. PMID 19097942.
  8. ↑ Fiebach JB, Al-Rawi Y, Wintermark M, Furlan AJ, Rowley HA, Lindstén A, et al. (June 2012). "Vascular occlusion enables selecting acute ischemic stroke patients for treatment with desmoteplase". Stroke. 43 (6): 1561–6. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.642322. PMID 22474060.
  9. ↑ "Lundbeck provides update on the development program for desmoteplase". 27 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 August 2014.
  10. ↑ Clinical trial number NCT00856661 for "Efficacy and Safety Study of Desmoteplase to Treat Acute Ischemic Stroke (DIAS-4)" at ClinicalTrials.gov
  11. ↑ Lees KR, Bluhmki E, von Kummer R, Brott TG, Toni D, Grotta JC, et al. (May 2010). "Time to treatment with intravenous alteplase and outcome in stroke: an updated pooled analysis of ECASS, ATLANTIS, NINDS, and EPITHET trials". Lancet. 375 (9727): 1695–703. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60491-6. PMID 20472172.
  12. ↑ Jeong HS, Song HJ, Kim SB, Lee J, Kang CW, Koh HS, et al. (April 2013). "A comparison of stent-assisted mechanical thrombectomy and conventional intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute cerebral infarction". Journal of Clinical Neurology. 9 (2): 91–6. doi:10.3988/jcn.2013.9.2.91. PMC 3633196. PMID 23626646.
  13. ↑ Koh JS, Lee SJ, Ryu CW, Kim HS (February 2012). "Safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy with solitaire stent retrieval for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review". Neurointervention. 7 (1): 1–9. doi:10.5469/neuroint.2012.7.1.1. PMC 3299943. PMID 22454778.
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