Tinzaparin Sodium

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Abstract
Tinzaparin sodium (tinzaparin; innohep®) is a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) formed by the enzymatic degradation of porcine unfractionated heparin (UFH). In clinical trials, once-daily subcutaneous (SC) tinzaparin was effective and generally well tolerated in the prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic disease. SC tinzaparin 75 anti-Xa IU/kg/day showed similar thromboprophylactic efficacy to adjusted-dosage oral warfarin in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty; in patients undergoing knee replacement, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was significantly lower with tinzaparin. The drug had similar efficacy to equivalent-dosage SC enoxaparin sodium in orthopaedic surgery. In patients undergoing general surgery, SC tinzaparin 3500 anti-Xa IU/day was of equivalent thromboprophylactic efficacy to SC UFH 5000IU twice daily. Encouraging preliminary results have been obtained with tinzaparin in the prevention of DVT in patients with complete motor paralysis. In the initial treatment of acute proximal DVT and pulmonary embolism, SC tinzaparin 175 anti-Xa IU/kg/day was at least as effective as adjusted-dosage intravenous (IV) UFH. In the outpatient treatment of venous thromboembolism, tinzaparin has demonstrated similar efficacy to dalteparin sodium (dalteparin) and warfarin. Tinzaparin was effective in preventing clotting in haemodialysis circuits; the anticoagulant efficacy of tinzaparin in patients undergoing haemodialysis was similar to that of SC dalteparin and similar to or less than (although in this case the tinzaparin dose was too low for sufficient anticoagulant efficacy) that of IV UFH. Advantages of tinzaparin over UFH and warfarin include ease of administration and lack of need for laboratory monitoring. Tinzaparin is more cost effective than UFH in the treatment of established thromboembolic disease, and homebased treatment with tinzaparin may offer greater cost benefits than hospitalbased therapy. Tinzaparin is well tolerated, including in elderly patients and those with renal impairment receiving long-term treatment. Incidences of major bleeding complications were low and reports of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia were infrequent in clinical studies. In conclusion, tinzaparin is a valuable LMWH in the prophylaxis and management of thromboembolic disease. Subcutaneous (SC) tinzaparin sodium (tinzaparin) increases anti-factor Xa and anti-factor IIa activities in plasma in a dose-related fashion. Tinzaparin stimulates the release of tissue factor pathway inhibitor, which contributes to the anticoagulant, and possibly the anti-tumour activities, of tinzaparin. Plasma antithrombin levels and platelet counts are not affected to a clinically significant extent by tinzaparin. The absorption half-life of single-dose SC tinzaparin in terms of anti-factor Xa activity was 200–248 minutes in healthy volunteers, and the bioavailability of the drug is 87–90%. However, the pharmacokinetics of tinzaparin are subject to wide interindividual variability. Elimination is predominately by renal filtration. Clearance of tinzaparin may be reduced in patients with severe renal impairment. The pharmacokinetics of tinzaparin are not affected by bodyweight or body mass index when the drug is administered at 75 or 175 anti-Xa IU/kg. Use in Thromboprophylaxis: Prophylactic dosages of SC tinzaparin were superior to placebo and intravenous (IV) dextran in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing total hip replacement. Efficacy tended to be greater with higher dosages of tinzaparin (approximately 75 anti-Xa IU/kg) than with lower dosages (approximately 50 anti-Xa IU/kg). In a study of 1207 patients, SC tinzaparin 75 anti-Xa IU/kg once daily was of similar thromboprophylactic efficacy to adjusted-dosage oral warfarin when given for 14 days to patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, but the incidence of DVT was significantly lower with tinzaparin than with warfarin in patients receiving knee replacement. Tinzaparin 4500 anti-Xa IU/day was of equivalent antithrombotic efficacy to enoxaparin sodium (enoxaparin) 40 mg/day; both low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) were given as single daily SC injections in 440 patients undergoing total hip replacement. Seven to ten days prophylaxis with SC tinzaparin 3500 anti-Xa IU once daily or SC unfractionated heparin (UFH) 5000IU twice daily was of equivalent efficacy and superior to tinzaparin 2500 anti-Xa IU once daily in a double-blind study in 1290 patients undergoing general surgery. Prolonged thromboprophylaxis with tinzaparin for up to an additional 28 days maintains, and may even improve on, short-term efficacy in terms of DVT reduction. The thromboprophylactic efficacy of tinzaparin has been further demonstrated in small studies in patients with motor paralysis. Treatment of Established Venous Thromboembolic Disease: SC tinzaparin 175 anti-Xa IU/kg/day for approximately 5–7 days was at least as effective as adjusted-dosage IV UFH in the initial management of 432 patients with acute proximal DVT in one study, and in 812 patients with pulmonary embolism in two other studies. Preliminary data indicate that tinzaparin (175 anti-Xa IU/kg/day or dosage not stated) is as effective as SC dalteparin sodium (200 anti-Xa IU/kg/day) or long-term oral warfarin in the outpatient treatment of venous thromboembolism, and suggests that home treatment with an LMWH is well accepted by patients. Analyses of hospital costs from the perspective of healthcare or third party payers have indicated cost advantages with SC tinzaparin relative to IV adjusted-dosage UFH in the treatment of established thromboembolic disease. Costs may be further reduced with outpatient treatment with tinzaparin in this patient group. Use in Haemodialysis: Tinzaparin was effective in the maintenance of patency of haemodialysis circuits, with additional benefits compared with UFH in terms of improvements in patients’ lipid...