2020-12-162020-12-162019-05-012072-66512072-6651http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/453531137917 (pubmed)http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/4553© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Snake venoms are attractive natural sources for drug discovery and development, with a number of substances either in clinical use or in research and development. These drugs were developed based on RGD-containing snake venom disintegrins, which efficiently antagonize fibrinogen activation of αIIbβ3 integrin (glycoprotein GP IIb/IIIa). Typical examples of anti-platelet drugs found in clinics are Integrilin (Eptifibatide), a heptapeptide derived from Barbourin, a protein found in the venom of the American Southeastern pygmy rattlesnake and Aggrastat (Tirofiban), a small molecule based on the structure of Echistatin, and a protein found in the venom of the saw-scaled viper. Using a similar drug discovery approach, linear and cyclic peptides containing the sequence K(R)TS derived from VP12, a C-type lectin protein found in the venom of Israeli viper venom, were used as a template to synthesize Vipegitide, a novel peptidomimetic antagonist of α2β1 integrin, with anti-platelet activity. This review focus on drug discovery of these anti-platelet agents, their indications for clinical use in acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary intervention based on several clinical trials, as well as their adverse effects.303-303enCC BYhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/snake venomTirofibanEptifibatideVipegitideanti-platelet drugacute coronary syndromepercutaneous coronary interventionclinical trialadverse effectArticle2020-12-16