Heparin is a potent anticoagulant that has been used clinically to manage blood clotting since 1935. Hundreds of thousands of doses are administered daily in the U.S. during surgery and for patients at risk of venous thromboembolism. Medical devices that come in contact with blood, such as dialysis tubing, are also coated with heparin. The importance of heparin is underscored by its inclusion on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines and a worldwide market of over $7B annually.
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