Omeros Corporation (Nasdaq: OMER) has secured an exclusive license from The Regents of the University of California for a new series of antifibrinolytic agents.
Antifibrinolytic agents are used for the control of blood loss during surgery or resulting from trauma.
Seattle based Omeros is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on inflammation and disorders of the central nervous system.
"This is a good opportunity for Omeros and represents a potential life-saving treatment for patients. With the withdrawal of Trasylol(R) from the market in 2008, there is an immediate need for a safe and effective antifibrinolytic," stated Gregory A. Demopulos, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Omeros.
"The ex vivo human and in vivo animal efficacy data look strong, and the regulatory pathway is well-defined. We have begun IND-enabling activities and are working to advance the program quickly to the clinic."
Omeros went on to note that before its withdrawl from the market in 2008, the antifibrinolytic Trasylol had been shown to be more effective at reducing blood loss than the other two commonly used agents, tranexamic acid and epsilon aminocaproic acid. Trasylol was withdrawn after it was found to be linked to increased mortality. Before it was withdrawn, sales peaked at US$285 million in 2005.
“Excessive bleeding during cardiac surgery is known to increase overall morbidity and mortality,” Omeros added. “In an attempt to control this bleeding, patients undergoing cardiac and other extensive surgery often receive antifibrinolytic compounds.”
Omeros' antifibrinolytic agents are highly selective inhibitors of plasmin, the enzyme responsible for fibrinolysis and dissolving blood clots.