Eptifibatide

Eptifibatide (Integrilin) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide modeled on barbourin, a protein from the venom of the southeastern pygmy rattlesnake. It is an FDA-approved intravenous antiplatelet drug used in hospitals during acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to stop platelets from clumping and forming dangerous clots. It acts as a competitive antagonist of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor using a KGD (Lys-Gly-Asp) recognition sequence, preventing fibrinogen from bridging platelets and halting aggregation. The molecule binds reversibly and clears quickly, with a plasma half-life of roughly 2.5 hours, so platelet function recovers within hours of stopping the infusion.