Blood Substitute Induces Erythrocyte Production

A chemically modified hemoglobin being developed as a blood substitute not only carries oxygen in the blood but also induces red-blood-cell production.

The blood substitute, called HemoTech, is being developed by HemoBiotech Inc., (Dallas, TX, USA), using a technology licensed from Texas Tech University Health Science Center (Lubbock, TX, USA).

Bovine hemoglobin is polymerized with adenosine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and then modified with glutathione. The resultant product is an oxygen carrier that appears to be non-toxic, vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, and that induces erythropoiesis. It can be used for induction of erythropoiesis as a treatment for blood loss.

We are very excited about the erythropoietic property of HemoTech, said Dr. Arthur P. Bollon, chairman and CEO of HemoBioTech. There is a strong interest in new agents which increase the level of red blood cells in patients. The development of a blood substitute that not only carries oxygen but also increases the level of red blood cells could have broad applications in medicine, especially trauma, elective surgery, acute anemia, cancer, and heart disease.

The company believes that HemoTech may possess properties that diminish the intrinsic toxicities that have plagued other attempts at developing blood substitutes, based upon pre-clinical and initial human clinical trials undertaken outside the U.S. by prior holders of this technology. HemoTech is being subjected to further studies and testing to confirm and possibly expand on these results.



Related Links:
HemoBiotech
Texas Tech University Health Science Center