ProMetic, MacoPharma: study shows PRDT technology reduces infectivity of brain disease, TSE

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., July 13 - Pathogen Removal and Diagnostic Technologies Inc. (PRDT) and its co-development partner MacoPharma SA, said results of a recent study showed that ligands on PRDT's affinity resins captured Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) infectivity from red blood cells in a hamster model, with four PRDT resins reducing infectivity by more than 3 log10.

TSEs are fatal brain diseases that include BSE (mad cow disease) in cattle, variant-Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans, and scrapie in sheep.

Human blood-borne TSE infectivity cannot be detected with a diagnostic test, according to a company news release.

A follow-up study demonstrated that endogenous blood-borne infectivity is also reduced to the limit of detection of the bioassay by PRDT's technology.

The study was published in Transfusion, the American Association of Blood Banks' monthly peer-reviewed journal, according to a company news release.

The P-CAPTTM filter, which incorporates the prion-binding affinity resin, is being scaled-up for commercial production by MacoPharma.

PRDT is a joint venture between ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. and the American Red Cross.

ProMetic is a Montreal-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in commercial applications derived from its proprietary Mimetic Ligand-enabling technology.

Located in Lille, France, MacoPharma is a global health care company specializing in the fields of transfusion and infusion.

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