Loxagen Logo
Contact us

Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious immune reaction to the blood thinner heparin. This immune reaction triggers the body to form dangerous blood clots. Heparin is a commonly used blood thinner, routinely administered to patients before surgery – about 1-3% of the 12M patients in the US that use heparin develop HIT with a high mortality rate of 30% and morbidities including major bleeding, amputation and new thrombosis.

12-Lipoxygenase (12LOX) is expressed in platelets and regulates FcγRIIa receptor signaling. In HIT, immune complexes activate platelets via FcγRIIa and 12LOX acts as a critical downstream amplifier of this hyperreactive, procoagulant and thrombotic state. Targeting 12LOX suppresses FcγRIIa mediated platelet activation, reducing thrombosis without bleeding complications

Specific inhibition of 12LOX in mice attenuates thrombosis without impairing homeostasis

Time-series microscopy images comparing thrombus formation in WT control mice, mice treated with the 12-LOX inhibitor ML355, and mice treated with heparin before injury and at 30, 180, and 240 seconds.
Graph showing similar time to stop plasma extravasation in WT control and ML355-treated mice, with substantially longer times after heparin treatment.
  • The only approach target 3 key elements of ischemic stroke: brain edema, brain hemorrhage and neuronal cell death.
  • Completed most IND enabling studies with $6M non-dilutive funds.
  • Designed a biomarker enabled Phase 1a/b clinical trial powered by AI.