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VIENNA—Researchers say they have found a way to unsickle red blood cells (RBCs), at least in vitro.
Using pegylated carboxyhemoglobin bovine gas transfer, the team restored sickled RBCs to a more normal, rounder shape in as little as 5 minutes.
Ronald Jubin, PhD, of Prolong Pharmaceuticals, the company developing carboxyhemoglobin, described this process at the 20th Congress of the European Hematology Association (abstract S140).
Pegylated carboxyhemoglobin bovine (Sanguinate [SG]) was designed to reduce vasoconstriction, counteract inflammatory responses, and deliver oxygen to hypoxic cells by releasing carbon monoxide.
The investigators contend that using SG early in a vasooclusive crisis (VOC) can limit the crisis and reduce pain severity.
They evaluated SG treatment using RBCs from healthy volunteers and patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).
The researchers monitored carboxyhemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin levels and analyzed patient samples using light microscopy and image capture flow cytometry. In this manner, they were able to visualize and quantify the effects of SG treatment on reversing the sickling of RBCs.
The investigators found that SG rapidly transferred its carbon monoxide component to oxygenated RBCs along with oxygen loading of SG.
“SG restored more normal RBC shape in as little as 5 minutes,” Dr Jubin said.
SG was also able to continually facilitate gas transfer through multiple exposure events and limited inflammatory marker expression in SCD blood samples.
The researchers concluded that SG can serve as an active gas transport agent, providing either carbon monoxide or oxygen to sickled RBCs. They also noted that image capture flow cytometry allowed for a quantitative measurement of decreased sickling and may provide a way to monitor SG treatment effects on SCD patients in future studies.
Dr Jubin said phase 1 safety trials of SG have been completed, and phase 2 trials are in development for VOC, SCD leg ulcers, delayed cerebral ischemia, prevention of delayed kidney graft function, and pulmonary hypertension in beta-thalassemia.
SG was recently awarded orphan drug status by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Orphan designation provides the company developing a drug with certain benefits and incentives, including a 7-year period of marketing exclusivity upon regulatory approval, potential tax credits for certain activities, eligibility for orphan drug grants, and the waiver of certain administrative fees. 
VIENNA—Researchers say they have found a way to unsickle red blood cells (RBCs), at least in vitro.
Using pegylated carboxyhemoglobin bovine gas transfer, the team restored sickled RBCs to a more normal, rounder shape in as little as 5 minutes.
Ronald Jubin, PhD, of Prolong Pharmaceuticals, the company developing carboxyhemoglobin, described this process at the 20th Congress of the European Hematology Association (abstract S140).
Pegylated carboxyhemoglobin bovine (Sanguinate [SG]) was designed to reduce vasoconstriction, counteract inflammatory responses, and deliver oxygen to hypoxic cells by releasing carbon monoxide.
The investigators contend that using SG early in a vasooclusive crisis (VOC) can limit the crisis and reduce pain severity.
They evaluated SG treatment using RBCs from healthy volunteers and patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).
The researchers monitored carboxyhemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin levels and analyzed patient samples using light microscopy and image capture flow cytometry. In this manner, they were able to visualize and quantify the effects of SG treatment on reversing the sickling of RBCs.
The investigators found that SG rapidly transferred its carbon monoxide component to oxygenated RBCs along with oxygen loading of SG.
“SG restored more normal RBC shape in as little as 5 minutes,” Dr Jubin said.
SG was also able to continually facilitate gas transfer through multiple exposure events and limited inflammatory marker expression in SCD blood samples.
The researchers concluded that SG can serve as an active gas transport agent, providing either carbon monoxide or oxygen to sickled RBCs. They also noted that image capture flow cytometry allowed for a quantitative measurement of decreased sickling and may provide a way to monitor SG treatment effects on SCD patients in future studies.
Dr Jubin said phase 1 safety trials of SG have been completed, and phase 2 trials are in development for VOC, SCD leg ulcers, delayed cerebral ischemia, prevention of delayed kidney graft function, and pulmonary hypertension in beta-thalassemia.
SG was recently awarded orphan drug status by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Orphan designation provides the company developing a drug with certain benefits and incentives, including a 7-year period of marketing exclusivity upon regulatory approval, potential tax credits for certain activities, eligibility for orphan drug grants, and the waiver of certain administrative fees.
VIENNA—Researchers say they have found a way to unsickle red blood cells (RBCs), at least in vitro.
Using pegylated carboxyhemoglobin bovine gas transfer, the team restored sickled RBCs to a more normal, rounder shape in as little as 5 minutes.
Ronald Jubin, PhD, of Prolong Pharmaceuticals, the company developing carboxyhemoglobin, described this process at the 20th Congress of the European Hematology Association (abstract S140).
Pegylated carboxyhemoglobin bovine (Sanguinate [SG]) was designed to reduce vasoconstriction, counteract inflammatory responses, and deliver oxygen to hypoxic cells by releasing carbon monoxide.
The investigators contend that using SG early in a vasooclusive crisis (VOC) can limit the crisis and reduce pain severity.
They evaluated SG treatment using RBCs from healthy volunteers and patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).
The researchers monitored carboxyhemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin levels and analyzed patient samples using light microscopy and image capture flow cytometry. In this manner, they were able to visualize and quantify the effects of SG treatment on reversing the sickling of RBCs.
The investigators found that SG rapidly transferred its carbon monoxide component to oxygenated RBCs along with oxygen loading of SG.
“SG restored more normal RBC shape in as little as 5 minutes,” Dr Jubin said.
SG was also able to continually facilitate gas transfer through multiple exposure events and limited inflammatory marker expression in SCD blood samples.
The researchers concluded that SG can serve as an active gas transport agent, providing either carbon monoxide or oxygen to sickled RBCs. They also noted that image capture flow cytometry allowed for a quantitative measurement of decreased sickling and may provide a way to monitor SG treatment effects on SCD patients in future studies.
Dr Jubin said phase 1 safety trials of SG have been completed, and phase 2 trials are in development for VOC, SCD leg ulcers, delayed cerebral ischemia, prevention of delayed kidney graft function, and pulmonary hypertension in beta-thalassemia.
SG was recently awarded orphan drug status by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Orphan designation provides the company developing a drug with certain benefits and incentives, including a 7-year period of marketing exclusivity upon regulatory approval, potential tax credits for certain activities, eligibility for orphan drug grants, and the waiver of certain administrative fees.