Product Reduces the Need for Blood Typing of Plasma

    MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- V. I. Technologies, Inc.
(Nasdaq: VITX) announced today that the Company has filed an Investigational
New Drug (IND) amendment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
commence trials of a new version of PLAS+SD which removes the antibodies that
cause plasma to be blood type specific.
    PLAS+SD is a transfusion plasma product that utilizes VITEX's solvent
detergent process to remove lipid enveloped viruses including HIV, Hepatitis C
and Hepatitis B.  Today, all plasma must be typed before it is administered to
a patient.  The next generation PLAS+SD removes blood type specific antibodies
(isoagglutinins), making it possible to use this product as a universal
plasma.  This means that it could be safely transfused without regard to blood
type for almost all approved indications.
    The naturally occurring universal plasma is Type AB, with Type AB donors
representing approximately 6% of the donor population.  Today's relative
scarcity of this blood type leads to shortages which can be potentially life
threatening in trauma or emergency room settings when there is little time to
determine the blood type of a badly injured patient.  The availability of a
isoagglutinin-depleted version of PLAS+SD will therefore help decrease the
critical time before treatment.
    The IND amendment proposes two relatively small clinical trials that are
designed to demonstrate the safety of this processing change in recipients of
PLAS+SD.  The safety studies that will be performed are phase III.  The
Company believes phase I and II studies will not be needed.
    John Barr, President and CEO of VITEX commented, "The universal version of
PLAS+SD is another example of the impact our technology can and will have on
the blood supply.  As we continue to improve the safety profile of PLAS+SD we
also greatly reduce or eliminate the probability of a transfusion reaction due
to the wrong blood type being transfused to a patient.  At the same time we
can help to eliminate shortages of Type AB plasma while saving the hospital
money by reducing their stocking needs from four blood types to one."
    Mr. Barr added, "When approved by the FDA, expected by July 2001, the
manufacturing change can be added virtually immediately and very cost
effectively to our PLAS+SD manufacturing process."
    VITEX is a leading developer and manufacturer of a broad portfolio of
blood products that utilize its patented viral inactivation technologies to
achieve the greatest possible safety in blood products.  The technologies are
tailored for all blood component applications and other blood-derived
products, including plasma, plasma derivatives, red blood cells and platelets.
The first of VITEX's virally-inactivated products, PLAS+SD, is the first FDA
approved method for viral inactivation of plasma.
    Central to VITEX's strategy are collaborations to accelerate the
commercialization of its products.  These include agreements with Bayer
Corporation to supply plasma fractions, the American National Red Cross to
distribute PLAS+SD, United States Surgical Corporation for the development and
distribution of fibrin sealant and Pall Corporation for the development and
distribution of systems for the viral inactivation of red blood cells and
platelets.
    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These
statements involve risks and uncertainties, such as quarterly fluctuations in
operating results, the timely availability of new products, market acceptance
of the company's products, the impacts of competitive products and pricing,
government regulation of the company's products and other risks and
uncertainties set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.  These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results
to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made herein.
    To receive additional information on V.I. Technologies, Inc., via fax, at
no charge, dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter code VITX.

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