Abstract: The present invention provides anti-thrombotic agents, methods for screening for said anti-thrombotics agents and methods of treating thrombotic and other cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to agents which interfere with the binding of GPVI to various components. Agents which interfere with GPVI interaction with one or both of fibronectin and vitronectin or sequences thereof are also disclosed. Methods of treating disorders or diseases which involve pathological, dysfunctional or non-pathological interaction of GPVI with fibronectin and/or vitronectin are included in the present disclosure. The invention also relates to uses of agents for the prevention or treatment of disorders arising from blood platelet adhesion and aggregation.

Abstract: The present invention provides anti-thrombotic agents, methods for screening for said anti-thrombotics agents and methods of treating thrombotic and other cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract: The invention discloses use of peptide containing an essential ventricular myosin light chain type 1 (vMLC1) amino acid sequence, which is functional as cleavage site for caspase-3, in the screening for a compound for the treatment of chronic or acute cardiovascular disease. Further, screening methods for inhibitors of the caspase-3-mediated cleavage of vMLC1 are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fusion protein comprising (1) the extracellular domain of glycoprotein VI or a variant thereof that is functional for binding to collagen and (b) the Fc domain of the immunoglobulin or a function-conservative part thereof, characterised by a polypeptide chain having an amino acid sequence as shown in FIG. 7 and whereby the fusion protein is obtainable by a process which provides the fusion protein in the form of a specific dimer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fusion protein comprising (a) the extracellular domain of glycoprotein VI or a variant thereof that is functional for binding to collagen and (b) the Fc domain of an immunoglobulin or a function-conservative part thereof, characterised by a polypeptide chain having an amino acid sequence as shown in FIG. 7 and whereby the fusion protein is obtainable by a process which provides the fusion protein in the form of a specific dimer.

Abstract: A method of increasing the contractility of a heart, a heart muscle or cells of a heart muscle i by administering an agent capable of binding to a phosducin binding site of G&bgr;&ggr; is provided. Said phosducin binding site is preferably a binding site of N-terminal truncated phosducin. Further, methods of identifying compounds capable of increasing the contractility of a heart muscle and methods of identifying compounds capable of inhibiting G&bgr;&ggr;-mediated processes are provided.