Finding a substitute for blood has been a goal of medical researchers for a very long time. Unfortunately, it always seemed to be just out of the reach of researchers. Today, however, the goal has been rethought and, with a different paradigm, close to a real possibility.
Synthetic Blood International Inc., a biomedical development company, works to develop oxygen carrying fluid exchange products. Among other areas, the company is currently working toward products oriented toward diabetes, oxygen substitutes, synthetic blood and malignant tumors. Currently, serious discussions are ongoing with large pharmaceutical companies for distribution upon development success and regulatory approval.
Making news of late is the company’s recognition by the US Department of Defense regarding its oxygen carrying product called Oxycyte. This product is in Phase IIa trials for use in Traumatic Brain Injuries, an injury suffered by approximately 12,000 soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. With the award by the Defense Department, the company indicates that it is ready to proceed to Phase IIb trials in April 2008 with an increased test group of 200 and a controlled double blind study.
Although this particular drug and award are making the news at present, the company does have a fairly sizable portfolio of products in development, with most having a focus on oxygen transport within the body. Generally, this area of study has been going on for centuries with limited successes. But, Synthetic Blood International appears to be on the right track at the present time. For the most part, this can be attributed to the research staff and an integral part of that staff; Mr. Leland Clark, the developer of the first heart-lung machine as well as oxygen and blood glucose biosensor electrodes.
It appears that the company has a fairly focused product line-up in the development pipeline and the staff on hand to make the products happen. It might appear that these products are of such a nature that if one product can be made to tip, the others might follow right behind. If this happens to be the case, Synthetic Blood International Inc. could become a very profitable company very quickly.
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