Pain & Central Nervous System Week

Synthetic Blood Expands Scientific Advisory Board

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The new members join SAB co-chairs Bruce Spiess, M.D., Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Professor and Vice-Chairman of Anesthesiology, Chief of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Director of the Research Department of Anesthesiology, and Ross Bullock, M.D., Ph.D., University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery and a recognized authority in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Drs. Spiess and Bullock were principal investigators in a small Phase IIa pilot clinical study in TBI in which the primary endpoint of increasing patients' oxygen tension levels compared with baseline was met.

"Our SAB now has representation from a broad range of medical specialties, including anesthesiology, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery and emergency medicine, which is reflective of Oxycyte's potential to address a variety of important medical indications," said Dr. Spiess. "Having worked with Oxycyte, I have seen first-hand its contribution to more favorable clinical outcomes in TBI patients than breathing either 100% or 50% oxygen alone. I view the SAB's expansion as a positive step in making decisions for Oxycyte's expeditious development in TBI and other indications."

"We are delighted to attract a talented group of physicians to assist in guiding us forward at this critical juncture in Oxycyte's development," said Robert Larsen, Interim President and CEO of Synthetic Blood. "As previously announced, we are working toward initiating a Phase IIb clinical trial in TBI, as well as initiating animal testing in sickle cell disease, spinal cord injury and stroke in the first half of 2008. We also plan to evaluate the affects of Oxycyte administered in multiple dosing. We look forward to continuing to build our SAB with additional high caliber appointments, primarily focusing on physicians located at medical centers that may be involved with Oxycyte trials."

Keywords: Anesthesia, Anesthesiology, Artificial Blood, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Blood Substitutes, Blood Transfusion, Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Clinical Trial Research, Emergency Medicine, Medical Device, Neurosurgery, Oxygen Carrier, Pain Medicine, Surgery, Therapy, Transfusion Medicine, Treatment, Synthetic Blood International Inc.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.