Drug Database
ST

streptokinase (Heberkinase)

✓ Approved

YM BioSciences Inc. · PLG · Recombinant Proteins

What is streptokinase?

streptokinase is a recombinant proteins developed by YM BioSciences Inc.. It is approved for therapeutic indications via injectable (others) or intravenous (iv).

Drug Profile

Brand NamesHeberkinase
CompanyYM BioSciences Inc.
Drug ClassRecombinant Proteins
Molecular TargetPLG
RouteInjectable (Others), Intravenous (IV)
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, YM BioSciences Inc.

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

streptokinase acts on 1 molecular target:

PLGplasminogen (HAE4)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

streptokinase is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Cardiac disordersMyocardial infarction✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedActa cirurgica brasileira2026-09-17

Evaluation of polymeric films and streptokinase for prevention of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion in rabbits.

Teixeira Luisa Gouvêa LG, Brito Helena Cristina Delgado HCD, Teixeira Bruna Nunes BN, Barata Julielton de Souza JS et al.

To evaluate the effectiveness of polymer-based strategies for preventing intra-abdominal adhesions after small colon enterotomy and enterorrhaphy in a rabbit experimental model. Twenty-four female New Zealand White rabbits were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 6): film composed of a blend of sodium carboxymethylcellulose and polyvinyl alcohol (NaCMC-PVA); NaCMC-PVA-streptokinase (STP) film; intra-abdominal STP infusion; and no treatment. Hematological parameters were assessed preoperatively and at three and seven days postoperatively. Macroscopic evaluation of intra-abdominal adhesions and histopathological analysis of the enterorrhaphy site were performed on postoperative day 7. Results were compared within and between experimental groups. Treated groups exhibited fewer hematological alterations compared with the control group. No statistically significant differences were observed among groups regarding adhesion severity or histopathological scores (p> 0.05). The NaCMC-PVA film showed the lowest absolute incidence of adhesions and did not impair intestinal remesothelialization. Based on the biological findings from this study, the NaCMC-PVA film exhibited acceptable handling characteristics and biological compatibility. These findings suggest its potential as a mechanical barrier for preventing abdominal adhesion. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm its effectiveness.

PMID 42752722
Read full article →
PubMedCirculation reports2026-09-11

Development and External Validation of a Machine Learning-Based Bleeding Risk Score for Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Tokai Tatsuya T, Ishii Masanobu M, Ikebe So S, Nakamura Taishi T et al.

Conventional bleeding risk scores after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have limited discrimination and external validation, so we developed and validated a machine learning (ML)-based bleeding risk score using real-world data. The primary outcome was major bleeding. In the Clinical Deep Data Accumulation System (CLIDAS) cohort, bleeding events occurring >30 days after PCI were identified by chart review and classified as moderate or severe bleeding by the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and TPA for Occluded Coronary Arteries criteria. In the Health, Clinic, and Education Information Evaluation Institute (HCEI) cohort, major bleeding was identified using ICD-10 codes and Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) data. We analyzed 2,502 acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing PCI from CLIDAS and externally validated the model in 10,928 patients from HCEI. A total of 5 ML algorithms were trained. Key predictors were age, body mass index, Btype natriuretic peptide, and hemoglobin. Logistic regression demonstrated the best performance (area under the curve [AUC] 0.748) and was used to derive the CLIDAS bleeding risk score. The CLIDAS score outperformed the binary J-HBR (AUC 0.74 vs. 0.63, P=0.007) and binary ARC-HBR (AUC 0.74 vs. 0.62, P=0.011), but in external validation the CLIDAS score demonstrated limited discrimination (AUC 0.64), lower than continuous conventional scores. Our novel ML-based bleeding risk score showed better discrimination than conventional binary classifications in the derivation/internal validation, but external performance was limited.

PMID 42724133
Read full article →
PubMedJournal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH2026-09-08

Mapping the Mutational Landscape for Streptokinase Binding to Plasminogen.

Baid Srishti S, Holding Matthew L ML, Laurin Taylor T, Siemieniak David D et al.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) expresses streptokinase (SK), a critical virulence factor that non-enzymatically activates the host's plasminogen (PLG), to an active form (PLGSK) via a conformational change. PLGSK subsequently activates PLG to plasmin, resulting in fibrinolysis and facilitating bacterial dissemination. As a potent thrombolytic, SK has been used as a therapeutic agent. GAS SK is highly specific for human PLG, and sequence variation between SK from different GAS strains has been linked to differences in PLG binding and disease severity. The contributions of individual amino acids to these differences are poorly understood. We employed phage display and deep mutational scanning (DMS) to map the effects of amino acid substitutions within SK from Group C Streptococcus (GCS), which shares high sequence homology with GAS, on its ability to bind human PLG. We demonstrate that SK expressed as a fusion protein to the p3 coat protein of M13 filamentous phage retains its capacity to bind human PLG. DMS mapped 71% of all possible single amino acid substitutions within SK, identifying specific regions in which amino acid substitutions are likely to increase or decrease SK's affinity for PLG. Our findings suggest a complex protein-protein interaction in which long-range protein dynamics influence the conformational activation of PLG to PLGSK. These data lay the foundation for linking SK variation between GCS strains to differences in virulence, mapping the determinants of GCS SK's human specificity, and potentially contributing to the development of improved therapeutics for heart attack and stroke.

PMID 42710811
Read full article →
PubMedJACC. Case reports2026-09-03

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage After Streptokinase Thrombolysis in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A 2-Patient Case Series.

Toshniwal Saket Satyasham SS, Toshniwal Satyasham S, Agrawal Shashank S, Singh Shashank S et al.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a rare and serious complication of thrombolytic therapy. We describe 2 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who received streptokinase, developed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, and survived. The first patient was a 46-year-old man with an inferior infarction. He later needed bypass grafting for triple-vessel disease. After receiving streptokinase, he experienced hemoptysis, decreasing hemoglobin, and bilateral ground-glass opacities on computed tomography. The second patient was a 52-year-old woman with anterior infarction. She experienced cardiac arrest during thrombolysis and underwent rescue angioplasty for failed thrombolysis. While on strong dual antiplatelet therapy for her stent, she developed a similar pulmonary syndrome, which was identified as blood-tinged endotracheal secretions during ventilation. Both patients received corticosteroids, temporary changes in their antithrombotic therapy, and supportive care. They achieved full recovery while their coronary disease was treated further. These cases highlight the careful diagnosis and treatment needed when hemorrhagic and ischemic processes occur together.

PMID 42684239
Read full article →
PubMedBiotechnology and applied biochemistry2026-08-31

Synthesis and Analysis of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Properties of Polysialylated Recombinant Streptokinase Enzyme.

Shahbazmohammadi Hamid H, Omidinia Eskandar E

Streptokinase (SK) is an enzyme drug and is used in medicine for dissolving clots in conditions such as heart attacks, lung artery emboli, vein thrombosis, and occlusions of arteries. Despite the impressive use of SK, its immunogenicity and short half-life are major challenges that limit its efficacy in clinical settings. In this communication, we studied the polysialylation of SK with the aim of improving the pharmacokinetics of this thrombolytic drug. Recombinant SK was covalently conjugated to polysialic acid (PSA; also referred to as colominic acid [CA]) via reductive amination. Native and polysialylated variants were compared in terms of structural properties, enzyme kinetics, stability, immunization, and biological half-life. The best molecular weight of PSA, optimum molar ratio, incubation time, and temperature for the conjugation reaction were determined to be 10.0 kDa, 200:1, 24 h, and 25°C, respectively. The exact molecular weight of SK-10.0 kDa PSA was determined to be 56.5 kDa by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, which matches the calculated value by SDS-PAGE. The intrinsic fluorescence intensity of polysialylated SK increased compared to the native version, meaning that the stability of SK was increased by immobilization on the PSA polymer. Km of polysialylated SK was slightly higher than that of native SK, which showed that the attached PSA molecules to the enzyme did not significantly reduce the substrate specificity. Polysialylated SK elicited nearly 63.0% lower antibody production compared to the native variant. Native and polysialylated SKs exhibited plasma half-lives of 0.5 and 2.21 h, respectively, implying that the modified variant has a 4.42-fold longer residence time in the body. Briefly, comparative studies with native and PSA-conjugated enzymes show that polysialylation can be useful in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of SK. It is worth emphasizing that this is the first report describing the use of polysialylation technology to improve the pharmaceutical properties of SK.

PMID 42675018
Read full article →
PubMedIndian pediatrics2026-08-19

Comparative Efficacy, Safety, and Cost of Different Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Agents for the Management of Empyema Thoracis in Children: A Systematic Review.

Malik Meenakshi M, Bhatt Sonia S, Gupta Sarika S, Kaur Hardeep H et al.

Pediatric empyema thoracis is a serious complication of bacterial pneumonia, and poses management challenges due to the absence of evidence-based guidelines on optimal treatment approaches. Intrapleural fibrinolytic agents are frequently used to enhance pleural drainage and avoid surgical intervention in pediatric empyema thoracis; however, the comparative efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of different fibrinolytic agents remain uncertain. To systematically evaluate and compare the efficacy, safety, and cost of different intrapleural fibrinolytic agents in children with empyema thoracis, to develop evidence-based recommendations for informing clinical decision-making. A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, OpenGrey, and four clinical trial registries was done, from their inception. Studies were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review if they were randomized controlled trials (RCT) including children under 18 years old with empyema thoracis (defined by any standard definition), comparing different fibrinolytic agents such as streptokinase, urokinase, and tissue plasminogen activator. The main outcomes included treatment failure, need for surgery, serious adverse events, and short-term clinical outcomes. Other outcomes were length of hospital stay, symptom duration, and cost. A total of 3110 records was identified; after de-duplication, 2022 unique citations were screened. A three-step screening process identified no RCT meeting the eligibility criteria. The available studies had other study designs, or lacked pediatric data. Current evidence is insufficient to determine the most effective and safe fibrinolytic agent for pediatric empyema thoracis. There is an urgent need for well-designed, comparative pediatric trials to support evidence-based treatment guidelines.

PMID 42616246
Read full article →

+7179 more articles available with a free account

Sign up free to view all articles →

Ask about streptokinase