Bio‐equivalence of Potency Adjusted Approved Heparin Solutions Compared to a Newly Developed Heparin Solution
Authors: Hoppensteadt Debra , Jeske Walter , Farooqui Ambar , Kouta Ahmed , Iqbal Omer , Kantarcioglu Bulent , Kraemer Roland , Bansal Vinod , Fareed Jawed 
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Porcine mucosal heparin solutions with a defined potency adjusted concentrations are widely used for the anticoagulation in medical, surgical and interventional indications. Recently, Sintetica has developed a 20.000 IU (48 ml, 416 IU/ml) solution. The active pharmaceutical ingredient used is a porcine mucosal origin with a specific activity of 194 U/mg. The purpose of this investigation is to compare the Sintetica heparin solution with other commercially available potency adjusted heparin solutions such as Fresenius, Roche, Hospira and Medefil heparins to demonstrate their bio‐equivalence in various biological assays.

Method

Commercially available heparin solutions were obtained from Sintetica, Roche, Fresenius Kabi, Hospira and Medefil. USP reference standard was obtained from US Pharmacopeia. USP compliant anti‐Xa and anti‐IIa method based on chromogenic substrate assays were obtained from Aniara Diagnostics (Westchester, OH). Thrombin generation studies were carried out using a fluorokinetic method (Diagnostico France). The quantification of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content was made by using a fluorescence probe (Red Probe, Munster, Germany). The clot based assays and amidolytic assays were carried out on ACL Elite analyzer. HIT mediated platelet aggregation studies were carried out using HIT antibodies from clinically diagnosed patient serum. All solutions were initially diluted to a working concentration of 100 USP U/ml in sterile saline. Working concentrations were prepared at 10 and 1 U/ml. For the potency measurements calibration curves were prepared with the USP standard for cross‐referencing. NHP was supplemented with each of these heparins in 0 to 1 U/ml concentrations. All other tests were carried out according to standard operating procedures.

Results

In the USP compliant anti‐Xa and anti‐IIa assays all standardized solutions provided comparable results. Similarly in the clot‐based assays such as the aPTT, thrombin time, prothrombinase‐induced clotting time, all solutions produced comparable anticoagulant effects. Similarly in the thrombin generation assays all products produced comparable inhibitory responses of thrombin generation in terms of peak thrombin, area‐under‐the‐curve and the lag time. The HIT antibody mediated platelet aggregation was similar with all solutions. Total GAG content as measured by Red Probe was also comparable with calculated amounts of 0.520 mg/100U for Sintetica, 0.540 mg/100U for Fresenius, 0.510 mg/100U for Hospira, 0.540 mg/100U for Medefil and 0.530 mg/100Us for Roche’s product.

Conclusion

These result demonstrate that commercially available potency adjusted heparin solutions and the developed Sintetica heparin solution exhibit comparable anticoagulant and anti‐protease effects. Based on these results the Sintetica product is similar to the commercially available clinically approved potency adjusted heparin solutions. Furthermore these results suggest that these solutions are interchangeable for clinical use.