Table 1

Red cell substitutes under active (phase III) investigation

Company
Product
Type
Clinical trial status

Northfield Laboratories
PolyHeme®
Human glutaraldehyde polymerized
Ongoing phase III multicenter trials in North America in vascular and general surgery. Initiating phase III DOD trial in trauma to begin in the prehospital setting
Biopure
Hemopure®: hemoglobin glutamer-bovine
Bovine glutaraldehyde polymerized
Completed phase III multicenter trial USA orthopedic surgery. Biologic license application under review by US Food and Drug Administration. Approved for use in South Africa. Initiating phase III DOD trial in trauma to begin in the prehospital and emergency center settings
Hemosol Inc.
HemoLink™: hemoglobin raffimer
Human O-raffinose polymerized
Completed phase III multicenter trial in coronary bypass patients in Canada and the UK. Planning anemia trials in North America

DOD, Department of Defense.

Cohn Critical Care 2004 8(Suppl 2):S15   doi:10.1186/cc2412