Entegrion, an RTP company, working on a replacement for fresh frozen blood plasma, will get an infusion of $43.7 million from the Department of Defense.
Entegrion's Resusix is dehydrated plasma and could be used more easily in combat situations, according to the company.
"Our focus is to offer a safer and more effective alternative for frozen blood plasma, which often is not readily available in austere and remote locations," Joseph DaCorta, Entegrion's chief technology officer, said in a statement.
The Department of Defense's contract calls for it to pay $24 million for a two-year period with an option of $19.7 million for two more years. During that time the company will take the product through its last phase of clinical trials and biological license application.
The company expects to have as many as 15 clinical sites participating in the product's clinical development and plans to begin recruting them next month.
In August, the life sciences company won a $9.84 million contract with the Navy to study the potential of combining two of its products to develop a treatment for the hemorrhaging and shock that accompanies traumatic combat injuries.
A Triangle company that develops techniques to stop emergency bleeding won a $8.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop dried plasma for blood transfusions in battlefield and emergency situations.
