Platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation are critical events in hemostasis and thrombosis [
1‐
3]. Platelet adhesion molecules, αIIbβ3 integrin and the glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V, are essential for these processes [
4‐
6]. Other adhesion molecules, such as P-selectin, GPVI and cadherins, are also involved [
7‐
10]. The important roles of adhesion molecules in normal hemostasis have been well demonstrated in bleeding disorders, for example, Glanzmann thrombasthenia (β3 integrin deficiency) [
11] and Bernard-Soulier syndrome (GPIb-IX-V complex deficiency) [
12]. However, under pathological conditions, excessive platelet function may lead to thrombotic diseases, such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, which cause far more deaths each year than cancer or respiratory diseases [
1,
2,
13‐
15]. Therefore, antiplatelet agents are vital for the treatment of thrombosis [
16]. For over a decade, dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin has been considered a key treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome [
17,
18]. Nonetheless, some patients undergoing this combination therapy continue to suffer from recurrent thrombotic events, likely a result of platelet activation and aggregation occurring independently of ADP or thromboxane A2 receptor-mediated signalling pathways [
17]. Thus, attenuating platelet adhesion appears to be a desirable strategy in effectively controlling pathological thrombosis [
18]. Further understanding of the interactions between platelet adhesion molecules and their binding partners is therefore crucial in developing novel anti-thrombotic therapies. This review briefly summarizes the current knowledge of thrombosis and antiplatelet therapies, introduces a number of major platelet adhesion molecules, and highlights some recent advances in the new mechanisms of thrombosis, and anti-thrombotic therapies that are in clinical trials (unless otherwise indicated). There are several excellent available reviews regarding antiplatelet therapies, such as ADP antagonists (e.g. P2Y12 inhibitors), thromboxane antagonists and PAR-1/4 inhibitors [
17,
18]. This mini-review will mainly focus on the therapeutic developments targeting platelet adhesion molecules.