Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Blood technologies company Entegrion is partnering with an Italian company to develop and commercialize Resusix, Entegrion’s freeze-dried human plasma.
Under the deal, Kedrion Melville gains exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize Resusix. Entegrion, based in Research Triangle Park, will collaborate with Kedrion on clinical development of the product. Clinical trials are expected to start this year, funded primarily through contracts Entegrion has with the U.S. Department of Defense. As part of the collaboration, Kedrion will make an undisclosed amount of equity investments into Entegrion throughout this year.
“Kedrion strongly believes in the potential of Resusix and is committed to its development,” Kedrion CEO Paolo Marcucci said in a statement. “This product is a strong strategic fit with Kedrion’s existing product portfolio and will further increase our presence in a number of key markets, including the U.S.”
Resusix is freeze-dried human plasma that Entegrion developed as a shelf-stable alternative to fresh-frozen plasma, which must be stored frozen and then thawed before it can be used. That makes fresh-frozen plasma difficult to use in emergencies. Resusix’s development started with support from The Office of Naval Research, which was seeking a safe and effective dehydrated blood plasma that could be used in combat situations. The technology’s development is also supported by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Entegrion has already commercialized one product, a bandage called Stasilon. That product uses a proprietary weave of glass and bamboo, a combination that promotes blood clotting. Stasilon was licensed by Beeken BioMedical in 2011.
