SanguiBioTech Int'l., Inc. Reports on the Efficiency of its Artificial Oxygen Carrier in a Newly Established Guinea Pig Animal Model at the ISOTT Meeting in Budapest.

SANTA ANNA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 1998--SanguiBioTech Inc. (Nasdaq BB:SGBI) has announced today that the novel artificial oxygen carrier is being designed to enhance the release of oxygen from the erythrocytes.

The synergistic effect of Sangui's oxygen carrier is demonstrated by results presented by Professor Dr. Dr. Barnikol at the 26th annual meeting of the International Society on Oxygen Transport to Tissue (ISOTT) in Budapest. Barnikol is the chief executive officer of SanguiBioTech AG (wholly owned subsidiary of SanguiBioTech International, Inc.) and head of the Department for Clinical Physiology at the Private University Witten/Herdecke, Germany.

After Isovolumic exchange of blood with an isosmotic albumin solution, the animals showed the typical symptoms of oxygen deficiency shock. However, the presence of minor contents (only one third of normal) of the artificial oxygen carrier was sufficient to prevent the symptoms. After infusion of an oxygen carrier in such a minor amount, blood pressure, total peripheral resistance was restored.

The increase of blood lactate level was avoided which suggests that the tissues of these animals are being well provided with oxygen. The existence of synergistic effects also appears to be supported by in vitro experiments with artificial capillaries carried out by Hellums et al., comparing the oxygen release of blood and hemoglobin based oxygen carriers.

The newly established guinea pig animal model may become an important prerequisite for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the artificial oxygen carrier. Concerning the transport of oxygen and their hemoglobin, humans are very similar to guinea pigs. The hemoglobin of the guinea pigs has an oxygen pressure of half saturation, which is similar to that of humans.

The positive effect of oxygenation  on the treatment of tumors was one of the topics of the ISOTT meeting. "The concept of our novel oxygen additive should fit here very well," emphasized Barnikol. SanguiBioTech AG and the Department for Clinical Physiology will strengthen their engagement in this field.

"After the decision of which substance will be applied in the preclinical trials, we will test the efficiency of our novel oxygen carrying additive for possible application of tumor oxygenation as a therapy," said Barnikol. A breakthrough in the field of tumor therapy could conceivably shorten the time necessary for registration.

Together with GlukoMediTech AG, SanguiBioTech AG is wholly owned by SanguiBioTech International, Inc. SanguiBioTech AG has been engaged in the research and development of novel hemoglobin based blood additive and substitute consisting of hyper polymers. GlukoMediTech AG is developing an implantable sensor for glucose to be used in diabetic patients and respiratory (flow and gases) sensors for medical applications, especially for small animals. This sensor is also intended to be applicable for newborns. The SanguiBioTech International Inc. Diagnostic Division is developing, manufacturing and marketing niche in vitro immunodiagnostic test kits.

For more information, please visit the Sangui website at http://www.sangui.com or contact SanguiBioTech AG, Dr. Sieglinde Borchert, Alfred Herrhausen Str. 44, D-58455 Witten FON 49-2301-915-200, FAX [phone] or call Mensch Communications at 1-888/541-1114