Animal Studies Completed for Blood Substitute

Key animal studies have been completed on a new perfluorcarbon-based blood substitute and therapeutic oxygen carrier.

Studies on the synthetic blood substitute, called Oxycyte, were conducted in rats and monkeys. Oxycyte, developed by Synthetic Blood International, Inc. (SYBD, Costa Mesa, CA, USA), is a parenteral oxygen-carrying perfluorocarbon emulsion whose applications include blood replacement in surgery and trauma and treatment of ischemic conditions such as stroke and heart attack.

In comparison to hemoglobin, the component of blood that binds with and transports oxygen, Oxycyte can carry at least five times more oxygen. Additionally, perfluorocarbons are much more effective than hemoglobin at unloading oxygen at the tissue level, says the company. Oxycyte is inert and can be fully sterilized, meaning it is disease free. It can be stored at room temperature and does not require typing or cross-matching prior to use.

"This is an extremely important milestone for us,” said Robert Nicora, president and CEO of SYBD. "This will allow SYBD to begin Phase I clinical trials with Oxycyte in the first quarter of 2003 and phase II trials in the second quarter of 2003.” SYBD is also developing a liquid ventilation product that may be useful in treating respiratory disorders in adults and children.




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