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