EVANSTON, Ill., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Northfield Laboratories, Inc.
(Nasdaq: NFLD), a leading developer of an oxygen-carrying blood substitute,
told a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services committee that its blood
substitute improved survival rates in trauma situations.
In a presentation to the HHS Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and
Availability, the company reported results from 53 patients who received
between six and 20 units of the blood substitute, PolyHeme. None of the
patients described in the testimony received banked blood, during the study
period.
Of the 53 patients, 27 had less than 25% of their own blood after infusion
with PolyHeme and, of those 27, 20 had less than 12% of their own blood
remaining. Five had less than 6% of their blood remaining after the infusion.
These 27 patients would have had an expected short-term survival rate of
less than 20% if banked blood or a blood substitute had not been available,
according to the company. However, 85% of the patients survived after
infusions of PolyHeme, essentially the same percentage that would have been
expected to survive if banked blood had been used.
Because the survival rates mirrored those for patients receiving blood,
the company believes these results provide clear evidence of PolyHeme's
ability to provide an enhanced survival rate for bleeding patients in
situations where blood might not be available, and could fulfill a critical
unmet needs.
The committee will make a formal recommendation to HHS on its findings.
Unedited minutes of the meeting can be found at
http://www.hhs.gov/partner/bloodsafety/ on the internet.
PolyHeme(TM) is the only blood substitute undergoing clinical trials that
has been tested at large enough dosages to be considered a substitute for
acute blood loss in trauma and surgical settings, according to Northfield. As
a result of the process used to manufacture the blood substitute --
essentially a solution of polymerized hemoglobin, PolyHeme(TM) has a longer
shelf life than blood, requires no cross matching and does not transmit
disease.
Northfield Laboratories was founded in 1985. The company is headquartered
in Evanston, Ill., and its stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market
System under the symbol NFLD.
SOURCE Northfield Laboratories, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.northfieldlabs.com
CONTACT:
Richard DeWoskin, Chief Executive Officer of
Northfield Laboratories, 847-864-3500; or General Info., Leslie
Hunziker, or Media Info., Bess Gallanis, Analyst, Broker Info.,
Kathy Brunson, all of The Financial Relations Board, 312-266-7800
NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on Northfield Laboratories
Inc. via facsimile at no cost, simply dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and
enter the company code NFLD. Visit the Northfield web site at:
http://www.northfieldlabs.com
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