Milestones in Antiplatelet Drugs

An article on antithrombotic therapy by Jack Hirsh, MD, and these accompanying milestones were published in December 2008 as part of the special ASH anniversary brochure, 50 Years in Hematology: Research That Revolutionized Patient Care.

Read the brochure Antithrombotic therapy

Aspirin

1899	Aspirin is introduced for pain and fever control by a German scientist and is patented in 1900.
1960s	Scientists demonstrate that aspirin impairs platelet aggregation and prevents arterial thrombosis in experimental animals.
1975	Aspirin's mechanism of action is determined by scientists from Washington University in St. Louis.
1978	The first randomized trial showing the beneficial effects of aspirin is reported by a Canadian group who show that aspirin reduces the risk of stroke in patients with minor strokes. Soon after, several clinical trials demonstrate that aspirin is effective in treating heart attacks and stroke.

ADP-Receptor Antagonists

1980s	The irreversible platelet ADP antagonist ticlopidine is developed and later shown to be effective in stroke patients in 1989.
1990s	Clopidogrel, an analogue of ticlopidine, is developed and shown to be effective clinically.
2001	The combination of clopidogrel and aspirin proves to be effective in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

GPIIb/IIIa-Receptor Antagonists

1970s/1980s	The glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) receptor is found to mediate platelet aggregation by binding to soluble adhesive proteins.
1990s	Monoclonal antibodies to block the GPIIb/IIIa receptor are developed and show promise as an antithrombotic treatment.
1990s	Soon after, a region of the monoclonal antibody c7E3 Fab (abciximab, ReoProTM) is found to be effective in patients with coronary stents; several studies then identify a pivotal role that the blockage of GPIIb/IIIa has in the management of acute coronary syndromes. Small intravenous GPIIb/IIIa antagonists are then developed and shown to be effective.