VivoRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. is developing a novel hemoglobin microbubble, HemoCyte(TM), that is capable of delivering dioxygen and performing as an artificial red blood cell substitute. This hemoglobin microbubble is approximately 2 microns in diameter and can be administered intravenously. This current product formulation can carry about 30% more dioxygen than whole blood. The hemoglobin molecules in the microbubble shell work in unison as revealed by the unusually high Hill coefficient of 18. The hemoglobin microbubble is about six to ten hemoglobin molecules thick and is held together via inter and intra protein crosslinking with a single microbubble containing about 10-8 hemoglobin molecules. In the Phase I study we propose to determine the safety and efficacy of this novel red blood substitute in small animals. In addition, we will optimize the reaction conditions and begin stability studies on HemoCyte(TM). In the long term, we propose to use the safety and efficacy data to conduct preclinical research in large animals, such as the swine. An IND will be filed upon successful completion of these studies.Proposed commercial application:The commercial potential for an artificial dioxygen carrying liquid is enormous. In 1992, 14 million units of blood were transfused in the United States with a market value of more than $3 billion.National Institute of Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
