title: Trifenagrel: a chemically novel platelet aggregation inhibitor.
abstract: Trifenagrel.HCl (trifenagrel) (2-[2-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy) phenyl]-4,5-diphenylimidazole monohydrochloride) is a chemically novel, potent inhibitor (IC50 = 0.3-3.0 microM) of arachidonate (AA)- and collagen-induced aggregation of platelets from several animal species and humans. When trifenagrel was administered p.o. to guinea pigs, there was a sustained (greater than 3 hr) inhibition of AA- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo (1 hr ED50 = 1.4 and 9.4 mg/kg, respectively). In humans, trifenagrel inhibited the second phase of ADP-induced aggregation ex vivo up to 6 hr after a single dose of 100 to 300 mg p.o. The mechanism of action of trifenagrel appears to be a reversible inhibition of platelet AA cyclooxygenase. Doses of trifenagrel up to 100 mg/kg p.o. in rats and guinea pigs inhibited gastric mucosal AA cyclooxygenase but did not produce the gastric damage associated with the administration of other cyclooxygenase inhibitors such as aspirin and indomethacin. To our knowledge this is the first report of a compound which inhibits gastric mucosal prostaglandin levels but causes little or no gastrointestinal (g.i.) irritation in rodents. Although trifenagrel caused g.i. irritation in dogs and humans, the nature of the damage suggests that the compound may have acted as a local irritant in these species. Furthermore, compared to aspirin trifenagrel produced significantly less gastric irritation and fecal blood loss in humans. The physiochemical properties of trifenagrel may be important for the lack of g.i. irritation in rodents and for the diminished damage relative to aspirin in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Burroughs Wellcome Co., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Abrahams
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hazen
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Batson
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000032:analysis; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C059718:trifenagrel; D000242:Cyclic AMP