New advances in treating thrombotic diseases: GPVI as a platelet drug target

The recent introduction of highly effective antiplatelet drugs has contributed to the significant improvement in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes. However, limitations remain. Recurrence of ischaemic vascular events results in poor prognosis. Drugs of high antithrombotic efficacy are associated with an increased risk of bleeding, which is important in patients at risk of stroke. An attractive target for the development of new antithrombotics is platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) because its blockade seems to combine ideally efficiency and safety. In this review, we summarise current knowledge on the physiological role of GPVI in haemostasis and thrombosis. We also discuss evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of strategies to inhibit GPVI.