SINGAPORE researchers are helping to develop a new drug - made from the saliva of ticks - that could better prevent blood from clotting.
It could also prevent heart attacks arising from blood clots.
A research team from Britain and Slovakia discovered and isolated an anticlotting agent from the salivary glands of the blood-feeding parasite.
It believes that ticks secrete the anticoagulant, which it named Variegin, to keep their hosts' blood flowing while they feed.
The team roped in National University of Singapore researchers Manjunatha Kini and Koh Cho Yeow, to help reproduce the substance in a laboratory and to increase its potency.
Professor Kini said Variegin is more potent and has fewer side effects than anticoagulants on the market, such as heparin and warfarin.
"While warfarin and heparin are non-specific in action and react with other substances in the body, Variegin is highly specific and easy to control," he said.
Anticoagulants are used inmany surgical procedures, and by patients with heart disease, to prevent blood from forming clots that can result in strokes or heart attacks.
Successful tests were carried out half a year ago by the research team on zebrafish, which showed that Variegin prevented blot clots in veins.
This indicates that the drug could work well in preventing deep-vein thrombosis in humans. The condition causes a potentially fatal blood clot to form in a deep vein located usually in an arm or leg, the researchers said.
It also means that the drug may be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in patients with narrowed arteries, and could be applied during major surgery to control bleeding, the researchers said.
There is also evidence to suggest that, by controlling blood flow and clotting, the drug could diminish or control the spread of some cancers.
The research team has filed patent applications and is seeking commercial partners or licensing deals for its product.
Prof Kini said: "If all goes according to schedule, we'll reach human trials in three years and get it on the market in 10 years."
