W. R. Grace artificial liver
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
W. R. Grace and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of Los Angeles begin clinical study of a bioartificial liver system following FDA approval of an investigational new drug application for the system. The bioartificial liver, developed jointly by Grace and Cedars under an agreement announced in November ("The Gray Sheet" Nov. 22, 1993, In Brief), consists of "a hollow-fiber membrane cartridge filled with a matrix of pig liver cells" and is intended to act as a short-term bridge to transplant for patients with acute and chronic liver failure. The first phase of the trial will involve 12-20 patients and will take place at Cedars, with Phase II trials expected to begin in mid-1995