| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/GB96/01093 Sec. 371 Date May 14, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date May 14, 1998 PCT Filed May 7, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/34890 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 7, 1996The inhibitors, obtainable from tissue or secretions of leeches typically of the order Rhynchobdellida, has the following terminal sequence: NH2-Lys-Leu-Leu-Pro-Cys-Lys-Glu-Y-His-Gln-Gly-Ile-Pro-Asn-Pro-Arg- wherein Y represents any amino acid sequence; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, derivative or bioprecursor of said sequence, or an analogue or homologue thereof. Because of their extreme potency in the nanomolar range, they can be used to treat a number of diseases where protein cross-linking is important. They can be used for the treatment of Crohn's disease, tumor implantation, atherosclerosis, thrombotic microangiophathy, fibrous growths of the skin, acne, scar formation, membranous glomerulonephrits, cataracts, or infection with microfilarial nematodes. In particular, they can be used to reduce the stability of thrombi so that they are more susceptible to lysis by thrombolytic agents. |