Technologies & Discovery

The basis of drug development at Dilafor is heparin. Heparin is a naturally occurring carbohydrate widely used in an injectable form for the prevention of thrombosis. Belonging to a group of molecules called glycosaminoglycans, heparin has the highest negative charge density of any known biomolecule, allowing it to interact easily with other molecules such as proteins. Although heparin has numerous biological activities, its potential use as a treatment for indications other than those currently approved is limited by its anticoagulative properties.
Dilafor has developed several forms of Low Anticoagulant Heparin (LAH) derivatives which allow the evaluation of treatments for indications other than the prevention of thrombosis, for which heparin is widely used. Two of these LAH derivatives are now in clinical phases of development; tafoxiparin is being developed for the treatment and prevention of dystocia/protracted labor and sevuparin is being developed for the treatment of severe malaria.

Dilafor is also interested in exploring the use of LAH analogues in other novel therapeutic areas. Such LAH compounds are presently being designed and produced and will be tested as pharmaceuticals for other indications.