Date: 01/01/2026

Heparin is an essential drug, widely used as an anticoagulant in hospital settings and high-criticality medical procedures. The topics covered in this blog include:

Before the API: the industrial relevance of sodium heparin

Crude sodium heparin is an intermediate product obtained from animal tissues rich in glycosaminoglycans, particularly porcine intestinal mucosa. After the initial steps of extraction, precipitation, and neutralization, a material is obtained that already exhibits measurable anticoagulant activity; however, it remains far from meeting the purity, standardization, and safety criteria required for an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

At this stage, heparin is not intended for direct therapeutic use. Its value lies precisely in its role as an industrial raw material, destined for further purification, fractionation, potency control, and removal of structural or biological impurities. The quality of this intermediate directly determines the technical and economic feasibility of subsequent processing steps.

From a chemical standpoint, heparin is a sulfated polysaccharide belonging to the glycosaminoglycan family, characterized by a high density of negative charges. This feature is responsible for its interaction with proteins in the coagulation cascade and for the complexity associated with its purification.

Sodium heparin exhibits natural heterogeneity in terms of chain length, degree of sulfation, and distribution of disaccharide sequences. This variability is inherent to the biological origin of the material and requires rigorous process control to avoid compromising future pharmaceutical standardization. In addition, parameters such as solubility, sodium content, and preliminary anticoagulant activity must be carefully monitored, as they directly impact the efficiency of downstream refining steps.

Heparin beyond anticoagulation: implications in diseases and new therapeutic fronts

Although heparin is widely recognized for its anticoagulant application, studies over recent decades have demonstrated that its interaction with extracellular matrix proteins, cytokines, and growth factors confers a role in various pathological contexts. Recent scientific literature reviews, such as the one conducted by Marcelo Lima and colleagues (Molecules, 2017), indicate that these interactions are associated with heparin’s ability to modulate inflammatory, infectious, and proliferative processes, significantly expanding the therapeutic interest in this glycosaminoglycan.

In the field of oncology, heparin and its derivatives have also been investigated for their influence on cellular signaling pathways, angiogenesis, and cell–matrix interactions.

In inflammatory and respiratory diseases, evidence suggests that heparin may contribute to cytokine modulation and inhibition of enzymes involved in tissue degradation, thereby supporting control of the inflammatory response.

Studies have also explored the role of heparin in neurodegenerative and infectious diseases, considering its ability to interfere with pathogen binding to cell surfaces and to modulate biochemical processes associated with disease progression. Although many of these applications are still under investigation, this growing body of evidence reinforces the importance of understanding heparin as a multifunctional molecule, whose quality and structural integrity are decisive for its therapeutic performance across different clinical scenarios.

Heparin as a raw material for pharmaceutical-grade heparin

Crude sodium heparin is the foundation upon which the entire pharmaceutical heparin production process is built. The quality of this intermediate directly affects:

● Industrial process yield;
● Consistency of the final product;
● Compliance with national and international regulatory requirements;
● Safety of the medication intended for human use.

For this reason, the selection of a crude heparin supplier is a strategic decision for the pharmaceutical industry.

MBRF Ingredients and supply chain integration

In recent years, operations in the Human Health segment have expanded consistently, with a focus on supplying heparin as a strategic input for the global pharmaceutical industry. This advancement reflects continuous investments in processes, sanitary control, and technological development aimed at producing highly reliable raw materials.

Operations are supported by a fully integrated supply chain system, ensuring high levels of traceability, safety, and regulatory compliance at all stages—from raw material origin to market delivery. The entire process is conducted under strict technical criteria and in alignment with national and international regulatory requirements.

Heparin is obtained from the intestinal mucosa of pigs fully approved by the Serviço de Inspeção Federal (SIF) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), Brazil. with complete supply chain control ensured through integration with BRF. The material undergoes rigorous quality selection, followed by controlled enzymatic digestion, isolation, and purification steps, which are essential for obtaining a consistent and safe intermediate input.

From mucosa collection in an industrial environment to the final product, all processes follow strict standards aligned with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and applicable international pharmaceutical regulations.

In partnership with BRF, one of the world’s largest food companies, continuous investments are maintained in research and development, focusing on technological process improvements and expanded contributions to the pharmaceutical market, particularly in the areas of heparin and glycosaminoglycans.

Relevance to the pharmaceutical industry

In the industrial context, crude sodium heparin is exclusively directed to specialized facilities for IFAs production. Its application is directly associated with the development of anticoagulant medicines used in surgical procedures, cardiovascular therapies, hemodialysis, and intensive care.

The reliability of these medicines begins long before final formulation and is anchored in the technical quality of the intermediate used. Consequently, crude heparin has a direct influence on the safety, efficacy, and regulatory acceptance of the final product.

Final considerations

Crude sodium heparin represents a structural element of the pharmaceutical-grade heparin production chain, requiring a high level of technical rigor from its origin. In a sector where quality, traceability, and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable, the role of suppliers with integrated supply chains becomes a strategic differentiator. By combining sanitary control, production consistency, and technical expertise, MBRF Ingredients makes a decisive contribution to the safety and reliability of one of the most critical drugs in contemporary clinical practice.