HaemoPlax™
HaemoPlax is a first-in-class platelet substitute, administered via intravenous infusion, designed to prevent bleeding in leukaemic patients with platelet deficiency or ‘thrombocytopenia’. Leukaemic patients, often undergoing chemotherapy, may suffer from platelet deficiency leading to bleeding. HaemoPlax is designed to be administered to patients whose platelet levels fall below a critical threshold. The product binds to residual, activated platelets augmenting clot formation to control bleeding.
Now in pre-clinical trials, Haemoplax has already been shown to significantly reduce bleeding in a well established thrombocytopenic model and is forecast to enter the clinic in 2010.
HaemoPlax has numerous potential advantages in comparison to transfusion platelets:
| Transfused platelets |
HaemoPlax target profile* |
| 5 day shelf life |
> 12 month shelf life |
| storage at 22oC |
4oC or room temperature |
| risk of bacterial contamination |
sterile |
| risk of viral contamination |
sterile |
| lack of efficacy in up to 20% patients |
improved efficacy in refractory patients |
*Note: HaemoPlax is a development stage product, yet to be tested in human clinical trials.
The mode of action of HaemoPlax is innovative and is based on the company’s patented fibrinogen-binding peptide technology. More...