Relationship between biological activity and concentration of a low-molecular-weight heparin (PK 10169) and unfractionated heparin after intravenous and subcutaneous administration.

The pharmacokinetics of unfractionated heparin and the low-molecular-weight (LMW) heparin PK 10169 after intravenous and subcutaneous injection were compared by crossover study in 8 healthy volunteers. The heparin concentrations in plasma were measured by a competitive binding assay, and anti-IIa and anti-Xa activities were also assayed. Unfractionated heparin was cleared after intravenous administration with a half-life of 35 min irrespective of assay method. However, the concentration of PK 10169 declined with the longer half-life of 60 min, and its anti-IIa and anti-Xa activities had half-lives of 40 and 275 min, respectively. Some of this anti-Xa activity may be mediated by a compound released by PK 10169 rather than by the LMW heparin itself. The bioavailability of PK 10169 was 3-fold greater than that of unfractionated heparin, due to more effective absorption after subcutaneous administration.