Prolong Pharmaceuticals Presents Data on Unique "Un-Sickling" In Vitro Activity Observed in Sickle Cell Investigational Drug SANGUINATE

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., April 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Prolong Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing products for the treatment of anemia resulting from oxygen deficiency and hemolysis, announced today that it had presented data on its flagship product SANGUINATE™, reporting its novel ability to rapidly reverse sickling of human red blood cells (RBCs) in an in vitro model and thus returning the RBCs to a more normal, morphologic shape. The data were presented at the 9th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Research & Educational Symposium and 38th National Sickle Cell Disease Scientific Meeting in Hollywood, Florida.

In addition to the un-sickling activity, SANGUINATE was also shown to down-regulate the inflammatory response in blood samples from SCD patients.  By disrupting these two key fundamental disease processes of sickle cell disease (SCD), SANGUINATE should be able to disrupt the cycle of red cell sickling, hemolysis and hypoxia responsible for the acute comorbidities of SCD.

"These results confirm two key mechanisms of SANGUINATE," stated Dr. Abraham Abuchowski, Chief Science Officer and CEO of Prolong. "We believe this work demonstrates the potential therapeutic benefit to patients suffering from comorbidities such as vaso-occlusive crisis by interrupting the ischemia and reducing the destructive inflammation that causes the debilitating pain and damage to tissues and organs in SCD patients."

Details of Presentation

The presentation entitled "Anti-inflammatory activity and rapid reversal of sickle cell morphology by SANGUINATE mediated gas transfer in vitro" reported the following findings:

• SANGUINATE was able to reproducibly transfer therapeutic gases to RBCs of sickle cell patients.
• Both the carbon monoxide and oxygen forms of SANGUINATE were capable of "unsickling" the abnormal SCD RBCs.
• The "unsickling" event was rapid.
• A significant decrease in cytokine RNA and protein markers of inflammation following treatment with SANGUINATE of whole blood samples from SCD patients.

About SANGUINATE™

SANGUINATE™ is an investigational biopharmaceutical product that facilitates the transfer of oxygen to oxygen-deprived cells and tissues and is also shown to down-regulate the inflammatory response in blood samples of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients. SANGUINATE is the only biological product currently in clinical development for the multiple comorbidities of SCD, and recently received an Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA. Many of the comorbidities of SCD are caused by a spiraling cycle of sickling, hemolysis and blood vessel inflammation. These comorbidities include vaso-occlusive crisis, Acute Chest Syndrome, leg ulcers and pediatric and adult stroke. By correcting oxygen levels and down-regulating inflammation, SANGUINATE has the promise of effectively treating many of the debilitating, acute comorbidities associated with SCD.

Phase I studies in healthy volunteers and stable SCD patients have been completed. SANGUINATE is now in a Phase II study for the reduction or prevention of delayed cerebral ischemia following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Phase II trials are also planned for vaso-occlusive crisis and leg ulcers secondary to SCD as well as for preventing delayed graft function following kidney transplantation. The product is being evaluated for the treatment of beta-thalassemia in international trials.

About Prolong Pharmaceuticals

Headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey, Prolong Pharmaceuticals, LLC is developing products to treat several diseases and their debilitating comorbidities associated with reduced quality of life, increased medical cost and significant mortality. Prolong's senior management team includes inventors of the most successful drug delivery technology in pharmaceutical history, PEGylation, now responsible for the development of a dozen drugs improving the quality of life for sufferers of hepatitis, kidney disease, and a number of life-threatening diseases. For more information visit: www.prolongpharma.com.

SOURCE Prolong Pharmaceuticals, LLC