More From Dr. Drees
Saturday, January 31st, 1998 W.S.J.
FDA OK's ARTIFICIAL Blood for Dogs; It could Also Aid Humans
WASHINGTON The government approved the first artificial blood Friday. But it's a just for dogs. Biopure Corp.'s Oxyglobin is big news for veterinarians because animal blood banks are rare and veterinarians struggle to find canine blood donors whenever a dog die its hit or comes down anemia.
But the approval by the Food and Drug Administration also signals hope for scientists seeking of blood substitute for humans because if artificial blood works for four legged mammal, then it one day could work for the two legged kind.
About four million dogs need transfusions for anemia every year, and 20 % of the cases are serious enough that the dog could die, Biopure says.
Some large veterinary practices freeze canine blood and some vets house dogs on site donors. But dogs have more blood types than people, sold matching blood and flying transfusions can take too long in an emergency.
"In almost all situations except the dog that happens to live next door to one of the rare bank's, if the dog is hemorrhaging, there's nothing that can be done in any less time than 24 hours, "FDA micro-biologist Paul Aebersold said.
In a study of 64 anemic dogs, treatment failures occurred in just five % of Oxyglobin-treated dogs, vs. 68 % of dogs given standard, supportive care.
Unlike real blood, Oxyglobin can sit on vets shelf at room temperature for two years, ready to be used. It will cost $150 a unit, about as much as donated canine blood, Biopure says. Most Dogs would need about 1 unit, although very large dogs would need two.
Derived from cattle blood, Oxyglobin is bio- engineered hemoglobin, the part of blood the carries oxygen. Hemoglobin normally is carried In side red blood cells. Biopure removed hemoglobin from those cells to create or fluid that carries oxygen straight into a dogs tissue without causing allergic reaction.
It can, side effects, including temporary urine discoloration, overly expanded blood vessels and vomiting. Because Oxyglobin contains no blood cells and disappears from the body within 24 hours, some dogs will need blood transfusions later, FDA veterinary expert Dr. Melanie Berson said.
The company has created a similar product for people, called Hemopure, that is being tested in surgery patients to see if blood substitute gets oxygen into their tissues better than standard surgical care.
Prospector |
