Desirudin
Also referenced as: Iprivask
A recombinant hirudin analogue with historical approval for surgical thromboprophylaxis.
- Evidence grade
- BModerate Human Evidence
Moderate Human Evidence
- Regulatory status
- FDA Approved for Specific Indication
Iprivask was FDA-approved for DVT prophylaxis after elective hip replacement; present commercial availability must be distinguished from historical approval.
- Human data
- Yes
Registered clinical trials exist
- Last reviewed
- October 27, 2026
Overview
A recombinant hirudin analogue with historical approval for surgical thromboprophylaxis.
Iprivask was FDA-approved for DVT prophylaxis after elective hip replacement; present commercial availability must be distinguished from historical approval.
Approval history does not confirm current commercial supply; neuraxial-procedure risks are clinically important.
Why It's Being Studied
- Surgical DVT prevention
- Direct thrombin inhibition
Mechanism of Action
It directly inhibits thrombin rather than signalling tissue repair or metabolism.
It directly inhibits thrombin rather than signalling tissue repair or metabolism. Approval history does not confirm current commercial supply; neuraxial-procedure risks are clinically important.
From molecular target to clinical evidence
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Background: Clinical Peptide Medicines
Clinical peptide medicines include endocrine treatments, antimicrobial drugs, receptor blockers and targeted diagnostic or cancer agents. They do not share one mechanism or one set of indications.
An approval belongs to a specific medicine and indication. A diagnostic tracer, an antibiotic and a hormone are not interchangeable wellness products; read each profile's own mechanism and prescribing source.
Research Areas & Routes Studied
- Surgical DVT prevention
- Direct thrombin inhibition
- Subcutaneous historical approved medicine
Evidence Summary
Human surgical studies support DVT prevention after elective hip replacement.
Higher tiers carry more weight. Filled tiers have evidence for Desirudin; tap to read it.
- Human surgical studies support DVT prevention after elective hip replacement.
1 cited sources.
- Prescribing label1
Human clinical evidence
- Human surgical studies support DVT prevention after elective hip replacement.
Reported Adverse Events in Research
- Serious bleeding, renal accumulation and spinal or epidural hematoma are major concerns.
Limitations of Current Evidence
- Approval history does not confirm current commercial supply; neuraxial-procedure risks are clinically important.
- Findings apply to the product, route and population studied; they do not establish benefits or safety for unrelated wellness uses or research-vial products.
How to Read This Research
- Is this a single molecule or a family of medicines?
- Is the use diagnostic, therapeutic or investigational?
- Does the quoted outcome match the exact product, formulation and population?
- Use the compound-specific mechanism above; this diagram describes drug development, not a shared biological pathway.
- Historical approval, present availability and off-label use are distinct questions.
- For radiopharmaceuticals and hospital medicines, specialist handling is part of the treatment context.
- Indication
- The condition and population for which a medicine is approved.
- Antagonist
- A compound that blocks activity at a receptor.
- Radiopharmaceutical
- A medicine containing a radioactive isotope for imaging or treatment.
Compare With Other Compounds
| Desirudin | Trofinetide | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | B — Moderate Human Evidence | B — Moderate Human Evidence |
| Regulatory status | FDA Approved for Specific Indication | FDA Approved for Specific Indication |
| Human data | Yes | Yes |
| Clinical trials | Registered trials exist | Registered trials exist |
| Research routes | Subcutaneous historical approved medicine | Oral approved medicine |
| Cited sources | 1 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Research References
- Prescribing label
Desirudin — prescribing label