Repligen Corp. announced Tuesday that it has received a U.S.patent from covering the use of purified platelet factor-4 andrecombinant platelet factor-4 (rPF4) for heparin neutralization.Heparin, used for rapid, temporary anti-coagulation in manycardiopulmonary procedures, must be neutralized to restorenormal circulation. In the U.S. alone, roughly 400,000procedures requiring heparin neutralization are performedeach year. A recent preclinical study by the Cambridge, Mass.,company showed that rPF4 neutralizes heparin with fewer sideeffects than protamine, a commonly used neutralization agent.Repligen shares (NASDAQ:RGEN) closed Tuesday at $9.75, down50 cents a share.

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