that is my question: are there other companies that clean the blood supply, and i think the answer is Abbott, right? but it is CERUS that worked with WPI to clean the blood of xmrv, and they were successful. right?
Whittemore Peterson Institute and Cerus Confirm Inactivation of XMRV by the
INTERCEPT Blood System
- Virus linked to chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer is viewed as a blood transfusion
risk -
CONCORD, California and RENO, Nevada--(BUSINESS WIRE) May 18, 2010-- The
Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease (WPI) and Cerus Corporation
(NASDAQ:CERS) announced positive results from a study demonstrating the efficacy of the
INTERCEPT Blood System to inactivate XMRV, a human retrovirus, in donated platelet
components. After sample platelet components were inoculated with XMRV, the infected blood
components were treated with INTERCEPT, a system that inactivates pathogens in donated
blood. Following treatment, no evidence of infectious XMRV was detected in blood samples.
The study results have been submitted for presentation at the AABB Annual Meeting in October.
XMRV is a retrovirus that has recently been linked to prostate cancer and myalgic
encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Other retroviruses, such as HIV and
HTLV-1, are known to cause cancer and immune deficiencies. Studies by WPI researchers and
collaborators have confirmed that infectious XMRV can be found in human blood cells and that
the virus is transmitted through body fluids.
In the joint study conducted by WPI and Cerus, blood samples were evaluated in a validated
virus culture test, which allows sensitive detection of XMRV particles that are capable of
reproducing. Cerus' INTERCEPT Blood System inactivates pathogens by crosslinking their
DNA or RNA, thereby blocking replication and preventing subsequent transmission of infection.
INTERCEPT has previously been demonstrated to inactivate high levels of both HIV and HTLV.
Cerus and WPI decided to collaborate on inactivation studies for XMRV in order to characterize
the treatment's efficacy against this newly recognized human retrovirus.
While research is ongoing regarding the prevalence and disease association of the virus,
concern for potential transfusion transmission of XMRV has already led blood centers in
Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand to ban donations from blood donors
with ME/CFS. Earlier this week, the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services voted unanimously to recommend that U.S. blood
centers also defer donors with diagnosed ME/CFS.
"As XMRV is a human retrovirus like HIV, one immediately wonders about the possibility for
transfusion transmission of XMRV," said Dr. Judy Mikovits, director of research at WPI. "We
chose to work with Cerus on this joint study because developing prevention strategies for
XMRV-linked neuro-immune diseases is an important element of the WPI's mission."
"Due to its leadership in the discovery and characterization of XMRV, WPI is an ideal partner to
confirm the efficacy of our treatment process," added Lily Lin, vice president of global scientific
affairs for Cerus. "Emerging pathogens such as XMRV are a particular challenge for blood
transfusion services and highlight a weakness in the current blood banking system."
The INTERCEPT systems for platelets and plasma are used by over 40 blood centers in
Europe, Russia and the Middle East. The INTERCEPT Blood System is not yet approved for
use in the United States.