Velico Medical, a private US-based medical technology company, has begun a Phase I safety study for its spray-dried plasma product, FrontlineODP, in a multi-centre, dose escalation clinical trial.
The first in-human clinical trial is taking place at three sites across the US and the development program is being funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Dried plasma, which helps the blood to clot, provides an alternative for early plasma transfusion in the resuscitation of haemorrhagic shock in environments where fresh frozen plasma is not immediately available. It is produced by freeze-drying or spray-drying liquid or thawed plasma.
When clinicians are treating a life-threatening haemorrhage, a product that can be administered prior to the patient arriving at the hospital is highly beneficial.
“Spray-dried plasma provides the biologic potency of frozen plasma with logistical convenience in situations where minutes can mean the difference between life and death," said Dr Mark Popovsky, Chief Medical Officer, Velico.
In April 2023, the UK’s NHS launched a project, in collaboration with Velico, to use dried plasma to help save the lives of soldiers in war zones, in a project costing £4.9m and involving clinical trials in the UK.
"Plasma plays a key role in the prevention of trauma-induced coagulopathy. Dried plasma has been a much sought-after goal for over two decades now and this trial marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide a lifesaving product for the medical and emergency response community," said Richard Meehan, President and CEO of Velico.
