BLX-155

BLX-155 is a direct-acting thrombolytic that we are developing to dissolve blood clots in patients with diseases or conditions such as acute peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis and hemodialysis graft thrombosis. Thrombosis, the formation or presence of a blood clot, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, is estimated to affect over 50 million people in the developed world. BLX-155 is the genetically engineered, or recombinant, form of plasmin, a naturally occurring human enzyme responsible for dissolving fibrin, a key component of blood clots.

Plasmin has been studied for a number of decades as a drug candidate for dissolving blood clots, but recombinant full-length human plasmin has not been successfully produced at commercially viable levels in traditional protein production systems.

In July 2007, our researchers presented results demonstrating the ability of the LEX System to produce full-length recombinant plasmin at commercially viable levels. This achievement provides us with a unique opportunity to pursue development and commercialization of a therapeutic protein with a known mechanism of action for which prior development historically had been prevented due to production challenges. As a direct-acting thrombolytic, we believe BLX-155 has the potential to provide efficacy and safety advantages over products that dissolve blood clots indirectly by activating the enzyme plasminogen, an inactive form of plasmin, including tissue-type plasminogen activators, or t-PAs, which are the current standard of care. BLX-155 is currently in preclinical development.

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