3K3A-Activated Protein C

3K3A-Activated Protein C is an experimental drug developed by the company ZZ Biotech, founded by researcher Berislav Zlokovic. It is a genetically engineered variant of activated protein C designed to reduce anticoagulant activity while preserving the molecule's cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, acting through protease-activated receptor 1 pathways in the brain. It has been studied mainly for ischemic stroke, with exploratory interest in Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and wound care. A Phase 2 trial known as RHAPSODY completed in 2019, and a planned 30 million dollar Phase 3 trial called RHAPSODY-2 was paused by the National Institutes of Health on November 16, 2023, after whistleblowers alleged data falsification in preclinical research supporting the trial and reported that patients receiving 3K3A-APC had higher first-week mortality than placebo controls in earlier studies.