NORTHFIELD COMPLETES ENROLLMENT IN BLOOD SUBSTITUTE TRIAL

Northfield Laboratories has announced that patient enrollment is complete in its Phase III study of PolyHeme, a human hemoglobin-based, oxygen-carrying red blood cell substitute. The company plans to report trial results in the fall.

The trial is the first study in the U.S. designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an oxygen-carrying red blood cell substitute beginning at the scene of injury and continuing during transport and in the early hospital period. The study plans to enroll 720 patients and be conducted at major Level I trauma centers in the United States. The primary endpoint is survival at 30 days.