- Data Confirming Inactivation of XMRV and MLV-Related Viruses is
Presented at 1st International XMRV Workshop -
RENO, Nev. & CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease (WPI) and
Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS) presented data at today's NIH-sponsored
1st International Workshop on XMRV which demonstrates the efficacy of
Cerus' INTERCEPT Blood System to inactivate XMRV and other MLV-related
viruses in donated blood. Recent scientific studies have detected these
human retroviruses in up to seven percent of healthy blood donor
samples, indicating approximately 20 million people in the United States
could unknowingly be carrying the infection. XMRV and MLV-related
viruses have been linked to prostate cancer and myalgic
encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
"The genetic variability of XMRV and MLV-related viruses will make
development of screening assays for the blood supply challenging," said
Dr. Judy Mikovits, director of research at WPI and lead author of the
study. "The INTERCEPT technology demonstrates robust inactivation of
these viruses and holds promise as a potential proactive approach to
mitigating the risk of XMLV/MLV-related virus transmission via
transfusion."
Co-author Dr. Lily Lin, vice president of global scientific affairs for
Cerus, added, "The INTERCEPT system inactivates pathogens by
crosslinking their DNA or RNA, which blocks their ability to replicate
and prevents transmission of the infection. This mechanism of action is
designed to provide prospective protection against emerging threats like
XMRV and its genetic variants."
In a paper published online on August 23, 2010 in the journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), scientists from
the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Food and Drug Agency detected
the presence of a genetically diverse group of MLV-related viruses in 86
percent of CFS patient samples and in 6.8 percent of samples from
healthy blood donors, leading to new concerns about the possibility of
transfusion transmission. The PNAS study results are consistent with
data from a 2009 study published in Science, which detected XMRV in 67
percent of CFS patients and 3.7 percent of healthy controls.
In the study conducted by WPI and Cerus, red blood cell and platelet
components were contaminated with a natural isolate of XMRV and
MLV-related viruses from an ME/CFS patient. INTERCEPT-treated and
control samples were evaluated in a validated virus culture test, which
allows sensitive detection of viral particles that are capable of
reproducing. No viable virus was detected following treatment,
indicating the INTERCEPT Blood System is capable of inactivating high
levels (>4 logs) of the virus.
The INTERCEPT systems for platelets and plasma are used by over 60 blood
centers in Europe, Russia and the Middle East. The INTERCEPT red cell
system is in clinical development. The INTERCEPT Blood System is not yet
approved for use in the United States.
ABOUT THE WHITTEMORE PETERSON INSTITUTE
The Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro Immune Disease exists to
bring discovery, knowledge, and effective treatments to patients with
illnesses that are caused by acquired dysregulation of both the immune
system and the nervous system, often resulting in lifelong disease and
disability. The Whittemore Peterson Institute is the first institute in
the world dedicated to neuro-immune diseases, integrating patient
treatment, basic and clinical research and medical education.
ABOUT CERUS
Cerus Corporation is a biomedical products company focused on
commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System to enhance blood safety. The
INTERCEPT system is designed to reduce the risk of
transfusion-transmitted diseases by inactivating a broad range of
pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that may be present in
donated blood. The nucleic acid targeting mechanism of action allows
INTERCEPT treatment to inactivate both established transfusion threats,
such as hepatitis, HIV, West Nile virus and bacteria, as well as
emerging pathogens such as influenza, malaria and dengue. Cerus
currently markets and sells the INTERCEPT Blood System for both
platelets and plasma in Europe, Russia, the Middle East and selected
countries in other regions around the world. The INTERCEPT red blood
cell system is in clinical development. Visit http://www.cerus.com
for more information.
INTERCEPT and INTERCEPT Blood System are trademarks of Cerus Corporation.
References
1. Lo SC, et al. (2010) Detection of MLV-related virus gene sequences in
blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy blood
donors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
published online before print August 23, 2010.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/08/16/1006901107.full.pdf+html
2. Lombardi VC, et al. (2009) Detection of an infectious retrovirus,
XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Science
326:585-589.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1179052
3. Mikovits J, et al. (2010) Inactivation of XMRV and MLV-related
viruses in platelet and RBC components prepared with the INTERCEPT Blood
System. Presented at the 1st International Workshop on XMRV, September
7-8, 2010 (Bethesda, MD).
http://www.interceptbloodsystem.com/recent_publications.html
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Source: Cerus Corporation