The development of polymerized pyridoxylated hemoglobin solution as a red cell substitute.

Development continues for a safe and effective hemoglobin solution to be used as a temporary red cell substitute. Our own efforts have progressed from the unmodified tetramer, to the pyridoxylated tetramer, to our current product--polymerized, pyridoxylated hemoglobin (Poly SFH-P). We recently completed two studies to evaluate the efficacy of Poly SFH-P. The results document that Poly SFH-P supports life in the absence of red cells while maintaining baseline hemodynamics and O2 consumption. In addition, Poly SFH-P achieves a near-normal plasma [Hb], and has a longer intravascular persistence than any unpolymerized product. Poly SFH-P thus is an improved red cell substitute for use in the clinical setting.