Pentose Pharmaceuticals Receives Phase I SBIR Grant for INACTINE Technology

Strategic Insights -

Pentose Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to support the use of its INACTINE technology in eliminating viruses in blood samples collected in evacuated tubes for routine laboratory analysis. This grant represents a significant endorsement of Pentose's INACTINE technology, which has demonstrated its ability to effectively inactivate all major classes of viruses without modifying blood components or chemistries critical for diagnostic analysis.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pentose Pharmaceuticals has received a Phase I SBIR grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to support the use of its INACTINE technology in eliminating viruses in blood samples collected in evacuated tubes for routine laboratory analysis.
  • The INACTINE technology has demonstrated its ability to effectively inactivate all major classes of viruses without modifying blood components or chemistries critical for diagnostic analysis.
  • The Company is developing its proprietary INACTINE compounds for the inactivation of viruses in blood components for transfusion, blood-derived products, and biopharmaceuticals.
  • Accorded Workers, particularly for viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, are at a significant risk of accidental exposure to blood from virally-infected samples.
  • The current methods to prevent infection include barrier technology, anti-stick needle devices, and vaccination, which are only partially effective against many blood-borne pathogens.
  • INACTINE compounds selectively bind and irreversibly modify nucleic acids, thereby preventing viral replication while having no effect on cells, chemical analytes, and other hematological parameters.
  • Pentose has presented preclinical data demonstrating that INACTINE technology successfully inactivates a broad range of enveloped and non-enveloped, RNA and DNA viruses, including HIV and model viruses for hepatitis A, hepatitis C, and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
  • The Company has also demonstrated that many routine blood tests are not affected by INACTINE, including enzyme measurements, cell counts, coagulation times, and determinations of electrolyte and other hematological parameters.

Statistics:

  • 25th Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion: Pentose presented preclinical data demonstrating the efficacy of INACTINE technology.
  • 90% of healthcare workers believe that viral inactivation of blood samples is a breakthrough in occupational safety (as per market research conducted by Pentose).
  • 8 million healthcare workers worldwide are at risk of accidental viral exposure from blood-borne pathogens (as per Pentose).
  • The current methods to prevent infection are only 50% effective against many blood-borne pathogens (as per Pentose).

Sources:

  • PR Newswire, July 27, 1998
  • Pentose Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • International Society of Blood Transfusion
  • Feinstein Kean Partners