Antiplatelet Effects of MK-852, a Platelet Fibrinogen Receptor Antagonist, in Healthy Volunteers

MK-852, a cyclic heptapeptide, is a potent platelet fibrinogen receptor antagonist. When administered to normal healthy male subjects by 1- and 4-hour constant rate intravenous infusions, it provides a generally well-tolerated and reversible means of inhibition of platelet function. At infusion rates of 1 microgram/kg/min for 1 hour and 0.44 microgram/kg/min for 4 hours, respectively, MK-852 extended baseline bleeding time by greater than 2.2-fold and 2.6-fold, inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation by 76% and 69%, and inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation by 65% and 67%, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of MK-852 include an elimination half-life of approximately 2 hours, total clearance of about 150 ml/min, and volume of distribution of about 18 liters. Examination of the relationship between MK-852 whole-blood concentration in vitro and inhibition of platelet aggregation showed an EC50 of about 55 ng/ml and a Hill coefficient of 1.55. The infusions were generally well tolerated, with no study drug-related changes in blood counts or biochemical profiles.