Oral delivery of heparin: SNAC and related formulations.

Unfractionated heparin is one of the most commonly used pharmacological agents in hospital practice. The use of this agent is inconvenient in that it must be given parenterally. Current research is directed at development of oral antithrombotic agents that will not require laboratory monitoring of the antithrombotic effect. This has stimulated interest in the development of orally active heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin. It has recently been shown that the addition of SNAC [sodium N-(8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylate] to heparin enables absorption of therapeutic levels of heparin. Studies to date have shown that oral heparin-SNAC is an effective agent for the prevention of venous thromboembolism following total hip replacement, and this should stimulate further studies with this agent.