Phase 2c Dose Comparison Study of MP4OX in Trauma

MP4OX is being developed as an ischemic rescue therapy to perfuse and oxygenate tissues at risk during hemorrhagic shock. MP4OX is a pegylated hemoglobin-based colloid designed to improve perfusion and target delivery of oxygen to ischemic tissues. This study will evaluate safety and efficacy of MP4OX treatment, in addition to standard therapy, in trauma patients suffering from lactic acidosis due to severe hemorrhagic shock.

Acute trauma, including both blunt and penetrating injury, is often associated with uncontrolled bleeding that leads to hemorrhagic shock. During shock, inadequate blood flow results in local ischemia and tissue hypoxia (insufficient oxygenation) of critical organs with resulting lactic acidosis. More than 10% of trauma victims who reach hospital alive will die, and many will suffer from organ failure. The primary goal when treating traumatic hemorrhage is to control blood loss, support ventilation and oxygenation, and maintain cardiovascular function to maintain organ perfusion.

Despite optimal care, organ dysfunction is present in many patients as evidenced by persistent lactic acidosis. Blood transfusions are intended to improve circulation of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, but are frequently insufficient, even when the hemoglobin level is optimized. The severity of lactic acidosis in trauma victims has also been shown to correlate with worse outcome.

Support for the proposed application for MP4OX as a therapeutic adjunct to standard treatment of severe hemorrhage shock, is based on multiple preclinical studies in different animal models of hemorrhagic shock resuscitation. These preclinical studies demonstrated that survival was greater and restoration of acid-base status and hemodynamics were improved with MP4OX. The benefits of MP4OX in animals were observed with or without co-administration of autologous blood, demonstrating that red cell transfusion alone was insufficient, and that the effects of MP4OX were additive.

The hypothesis for the current study is that MP4OX will enhance perfusion and oxygenation of ischemic organs and thereby prevent and reduce the duration of organ failure and improve morbidity and mortality outcome measures.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Trauma injury (blunt and/or penetrating) resulting in lactic acidosis due to hemorrhagic shock
* Acidosis (blood lactate level ≥ 5 mmol/L; equivalent to 45 mg/dL)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Massive injury incompatible with life
* Normalization of lactate prior to dosing (≤ 2.2 mmol/L)
* Evidence of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) as defined by ANY one of the following: Known non-survivable head injury or open brain injury; Known AIS (head region) ≥ 4 by an appropriate imaging methodology; Contemplated CNS surgery; Abnormal physical exam indicative of severe CNS or any spinal cord injury above T5 level; or Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) = 3, 4 or 5.
* Cardiac arrest prior to randomization
* Known age below the legal age for consenting
* Estimated time from injury to randomization \> 4 hours
* Estimated time from hospital admission to randomization \> 2 hours
* Known pregnancy
* Use of any oxygen carrier other than RBCs
* Known previous participation in this study
* Professional or ancillary personnel involved with this study
* Known receipt of any investigational drug(s) within 30 days prior to study