Tirofiban is a platelet aggregation inhibitor drug sold under the name Aggrastat. It is specifically a small molecule that inhibits the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor of platelets. It is administered intravenously, and can act to decrease platelet aggregation by over 90% after the infusion, and can help prevent aggregation for up to two days after administration. In the vein, tirofiban causes a conformational change in the integrins on the surface of activated platelets. This prevents the binding of fibrinogen to these integrins, which in turn prevents the platelets from being held together by these fibrinogen fibres. The conformational change also prevents the binding of von Willebrand factor to the platelets, which also prevents aggregation and adhesion.

Tirofiban Pathway References