CytoSorbents, a critical care immunotherapy company based in Monmouth Junction, N.J., is the recipient of a $150,000 phase I Small Business Technology Transfer contract to develop a blood purification technology that may create universal plasma.
Currently, most plasma types must match a patient's blood-type to prevent incompatibilities and reduce the risk of major transfusion reactions. Only type AB plasma, which lacks blood type-specific antibodies, can be used in transfusions for any patient regardless of blood type.
Since there are not enough type AB plasma donors to meet the current demand, CytoSorbents plans to adapt its HomoDefend technology to remove blood type-specific antibodies from all types of plasma, creating the possibility of universal plasma.
This U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity is funding the project.
If the company's phase I efforts prove successful, CytoSorbents will be eligible to earn phase II funding, totaling over $1 million.
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