apcitide

Apcitide is a synthetic 13-amino acid peptide that, when radiolabeled with technetium-99m, serves as a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical for the scintigraphic imaging of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It specifically targets the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) receptor, an integrin complex expressed on the surface of activated platelets that are actively involved in thrombus formation. By binding to these receptors, apcitide allows for the visualization of fresh blood clots, enabling clinicians to differentiate acute DVT from older, organized thrombi. Developed by Diatide and later marketed by Bayer (following the acquisition of Schering AG), it received FDA approval in 1998 under the brand name AcuTect. The drug is typically supplied as a kit containing bibapcitide, a dimer of apcitide, which is reconstituted with sodium pertechnetate Tc-99m for intravenous administration. Although it was the first radiopharmaceutical specifically designed for DVT imaging, it was later discontinued for commercial reasons.

Brand names

AcuTect

Other names

bibapcitideTechnetium Tc-99m apcitideTc-99m apcitideTc99m apcitideTc 99m apcitide