Educational reference only. Not medical advice. Nothing on this site is for sale.
Latest
CompoundingHHS lets 503A pharmacies compound six peptides under an interim enforcement discretion policyTrial resultRetatrutide beats Ozempic on blood sugar and weight in head-to-head TRANSCEND-T2D-2 trialFDA approvalFDA extends once-weekly insulin icodec (Awiqli) to children 10 and older with type 2 diabetesCompoundingCitizen petition asks FDA not to allow compounding of seven peptides reviewed by its advisory committeeTrial resultSurvodutide SYNCHRONIZE-2 phase 3 results in obesity with type 2 diabetes published in NEJMTrial resultEloraTZP (eloralintide plus tirzepatide) phase 2 results presented at EASD 2026Trial resultOrforglipron ACHIEVE-4 cardiovascular safety trial published in The LancetTrial resultFull TRIUMPH-2 retatrutide results published in The LancetFDA approvalFDA approves insulin efsitora alfa (Onswik), a once-weekly basal insulin for type 2 diabetesWADAWADA publishes 2027 Prohibited List, naming peptides as examples of non-approved substances
Sign in

Cardiovascular & blood

Eptifibatide

Also called Integrilin

Eptifibatide is a small ring-shaped peptide, modeled on a rattlesnake venom protein, that stops platelets from clumping. It is given by IV in hospital for heart attacks and during heart artery procedures.

FDA-approvedApproved by the FDA for at least one use after large human trials.

All printable flashcards

Drawn from its published sequence: 7 residues, one bead each. Dashed arcs are ring bonds.

Overview

Eptifibatide is a small ring-shaped peptide, modeled on a rattlesnake venom protein, that stops platelets from clumping. It is given by IV in hospital for heart attacks and during heart artery procedures.

How it works

Established: eptifibatide reversibly blocks the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor on platelets, the final common step for platelet clumping. It stops fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor from binding, so platelets cannot link together. The effect fades within hours after the infusion stops (half-life about 2.5 hours) (FDA label).

What research shows

  • PURSUIT (10,948 ACS patients): death or MI at 30 days 14.2% vs 15.7% with placebo (p=0.042) (FDA label).
  • ESPRIT (2,064 stent PCI patients): death, MI or urgent revascularization at 48 hours 6.6% vs 10.5% (p=0.0015) (FDA label).

Doses studied in people

Study or labelDose usedSource
FDA label, acute coronary syndrome180 mcg/kg IV bolus, then 2 mcg/kg/min infusion up to 72 hours (with aspirin and heparin)1
FDA label, PCI180 mcg/kg IV bolus, 2 mcg/kg/min infusion, second 180 mcg/kg bolus 10 minutes later; infusion halved to 1 mcg/kg/min if CrCl <50 mL/min1

Hospital-only IV drug used with aspirin and heparin per the label.

Read this first: these are the amounts given to participants in published studies or written on official prescribing labels, reported for reference. They are not recommendations. Trial doses were chosen for specific patients under medical supervision, and a dose that is safe in one person can be harmful in another.

Safety

  • Bleeding, the most common complication; major bleeding 10.8% vs 9.3% placebo in PURSUIT (FDA label).
  • Acute profound thrombocytopenia (low platelets), including immune-mediated (FDA label).
  • Contraindicated with recent bleeding, recent stroke or any history of hemorrhagic stroke, severe uncontrolled hypertension, recent major surgery, or dialysis dependence (FDA label).
  • Hypotension (FDA label).

Report side effects of any drug or product to the FDA through MedWatch. For a possible poisoning in the US, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Storage and stability

Refrigerate vials at 2-8°C; may be kept at room temperature for up to 2 months; protect from light (FDA label).

General lab handling, not instructions for personal use. See Storage and stability.

History

Eptifibatide was discovered at COR Therapeutics by a team led by Robert Scarborough and David Phillips, based on a snake-venom disintegrin. The FDA approved it as Integrilin in 1998 for acute coronary syndromes and PCI.

Common questions

Is eptifibatide FDA-approved?

Yes. It was approved as Integrilin in 1998, and generics are available, for heart attacks and similar emergencies (acute coronary syndrome) and during heart artery procedures 1.

Where did eptifibatide come from?

It was designed from a protein in the venom of the southeastern pygmy rattlesnake 4. It stops platelets from clumping by blocking their glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, and the effect fades within hours after the drip stops 1.

What did the main trials find?

In PURSUIT, with 10,948 patients, death or heart attack at 30 days was 14.2% versus 15.7% on placebo 2. In ESPRIT, with 2,064 stent patients, serious events at 48 hours were 6.6% versus 10.5% 2.

What doses are on the FDA label?

For acute coronary syndrome, the label lists a 180 mcg/kg IV bolus then 2 mcg/kg per minute for up to 72 hours, with aspirin and heparin 1. For PCI it adds a second bolus and halves the drip for poor kidney function 1. These are hospital doses set by weight, not general guidance 1.

What are the main risks?

Bleeding is the most common complication, with major bleeding in 10.8% versus 9.3% on placebo in PURSUIT 1. It can also cause a sudden severe drop in platelets and low blood pressure, and it must not be used after a recent stroke or bleed 1.

How is eptifibatide stored?

Vials are kept in the fridge at 2 to 8°C and protected from light, but may be kept at room temperature for up to 2 months 1.

Related compounds

Cardiovascular & bloodFDA-approvedFlashcard

Bivalirudin

Angiomax · Hirulog

Bivalirudin is a lab-made blood thinner based on hirudin, the anticoagulant found in leech saliva.

Sources

  1. INTEGRILIN (eptifibatide) prescribing information FDA label
  2. Integrilin prescribing information (clinical studies) FDA label
  3. ChEBI: eptifibatide (CHEBI:291902) Journal
  4. Eptifibatide (Wikipedia; discovery history) Journal
  5. WADA 2026 Prohibited List Regulatory

Last reviewed 2026-10-25 · How we research · Found an error? See our corrections policy.