Gambro to focus pathogen reduction development

26-Feb-2004

Navigant Biotechnologies, Inc. ("Navigant"), a Denver, US based company and wholly owned subsidiary of Gambro AB, is focusing its Mirasol pathogen reduction technology for application to platelets and red blood cells. Pathogen reduction refers to the reduction of disease-causing viruses, bacteria and parasites that can be transmitted in blood components including platelets, plasma and red blood cells. During 2003, Navigant showed good progress and passed significant milestones.

The focusing move enables Gambro to better align and leverage the development efforts with future business strategies. Pathogens present in platelets are the most significant transfusion-related healthcare problem worldwide today and the market size for platelets pathogen reduction is estimated at MUSD 500 in the developed nations of the world. Navigant is currently conducting human clinical trials to evaluate platelet recovery and survival rates at two centers in the US. Current plans are to introduce the platelets product initially in Europe. Additionally, Navigant will continue pursuing development of its red cells product, which has a market opportunity of over USD 2.5 billion worldwide. The red cells program is in an earlier development stage than platelets. Navigant was awarded a MUSD 2 grant from the US Department of Defense to help develop its technology for red cells in military applications, working in collaboration with Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

The external fund-raising efforts continue. Based on progress and evaluation of the technology, market conditions and external funding opportunities, the development focus for 2004 will be on the programs most likely to support Gambro BCT for specified products and geographical markets. This includes a focus on developing platelet technology and pursuing development of the red cell program, which is in an earlier stage. Navigant expects to spend around MUSD 10 in 2004.

Navigant was organized in 1999 as a development project within Gambro BCT, Inc. and has since been established as a separate company operating as part of Gambro BCT. The Mirasol(TM) technology uses a combination of riboflavin (vitamin B2), a natural substance present in normal human blood and a part of the normal daily human diet, and illumination to reduce pathogens. Mirasol(TM) is the only technology under development today that applies to all three collected components of blood - platelets, plasma and red cells.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/35775/gambro-to-focus-pathogen-reduction-development.html