Oxygen Biotherapeutics adds Phase II TBI trial sites in Israel

US-based biotechnology company Oxygen Biotherapeutics has added clinical trial sites in Israel for the planned Phase II dose escalation study of Oxycyte in traumatic brain injury.

Oxycyte is the company’s perfluorocarbon therapeutic oxygen carrier. The Israeli sites are in addition to those previously planned for Switzerland.

The company said that its plans call for up to six treatment sites in Israel, the same number as in Switzerland. They will also use the same clinical protocol. All trials will be supervised by the Israeli affiliate of PFC Pharma Focus, a Swiss-based contract research organization. The company expects to begin the clinical trials in the second quarter of 2009.

Chris Stern, chairman and CEO of Oxygen Biotherapeutics, said: Israeli physicians are excited to be able to participate in this study, especially as it relates to traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of blast injury. Unfortunately, they have had to deal with blast victims for some time, both military and civilian. They see this as something that can help them improve outcomes for the victims they treat. They also have one of the best medical systems in the world and are especially skilled in treating TBI. So the data they collect should be absolutely first rate.