Bioxytran is developing an innovative platform of oxygen therapeutic treatments for hypoxic conditions and necrosis prevention. Our initial targeted medical conditions are brain stroke, wound healing, and trauma. Most of these disease indications can use hyperbaric treatment, but it is costly and limited. In these indications hyperbaric treatment shows promise, but the duration of treatment is limited due to oxygen toxicity our oxygen transport molecule has the ability to impact the duration of treatment due to its drug design. Hyperbaric chamber can only be used for a short time but it also could develop free radicals in the blood. and typical treatment lasts 1 hour. In theory our transport molecule will deliver the right kind of oxygen and not develop any free radicals known to cause oxygen toxicity.
Oxygen is indispensable to the life of all human tissues. Hemoglobin, a protein normally contained within red blood cells, is the molecule responsible for carrying and releasing oxygen to the body's tissues. Hemoglobin's protein structure is similar in many different animal species, including humans. Under normal conditions, hemoglobin contained within red blood cells carries approximately 98% of the body's oxygen and the remaining two percent is dissolved in the plasma, or the liquid part of the blood.
Many degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer, Dementia, and Parkinons, are affected by the lack of oxygen supplied to tissues. The sooner oxygenated blood can be administered in these situations the better the outcomes. Our solution is BXT-25, which molecules hold the same amount of oxygen as the hemoglobin molecules in Red Blood Cells (RBC).
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced. This deprives the brain of oxygen, which can cause brain cells to die. An ischemic stroke constitutes about 87% of all strokes. It is caused by a blockage of the brain’s blood supply by a blood clot. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a ruptured blood vessel. Our lead drug candidate, BXT-25, is a treatment modality intended to keep the brain tissue oxygenated and has no adverse effects. It is administered through intravenous (IV) injection while the ischemic stroke is taking place and after its end.
Current medical procedures for ischemic stroke aim to dissolve the clot using recombinant tissue Plasminogen Activator (rtPA), or to remove the clot surgically, neglecting the injured brain. BioXyTran’s treatment is intended to reduce brain tissue damage, recovery time, and patient suffering, minimizing direct and indirect healthcare costs. The small synthetic molecule carries Oxygen from the lungs to the brain, prolonging the “Time to Needle” window and allow for other medical procedures to take place. BXT-25 offers an “Oxygen Bridge” to ensure survival in the critical hours immediately after ischemic stroke and prevent necrosis of brain tissue when oxygen is not properly transported or blocked.
The BXT-25 molecule contains a co-polymer to stabilize the cross-linked subunits of hemoglobin protein as a universal carrier for oxygen. BXT-25 for stroke treatment is delivered as an injectable IV solution whose molecules are 5,000 times smaller than red blood cells. BXT-25 circulates in the blood collecting oxygen from the lungs and releasing the oxygen molecules where the tissue has developed ischemia, or lack of oxygen. The oxygen is delivered to the brain immediately upon infusion (< 3 min). Once the cells become oxygenated their hypoxia condition will be reversed. BXT-25 has oxygen affinity that mimics human red blood cells and is not expected to cause adverse effects. BXT-25 is non-immunogenic, and universally compatible with all blood types. It is recognized by the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and has low viscosity allowing it to safely deliver oxygen to the brain.
An ischemic stroke happens when blood vessels to the brain become clogged. The ability of BXT-25 molecules to circumvent partial occlusions could potentially benefit patients recovering from ischemic conditions by supplying oxygen to tissues that are receiving inadequate numbers of red blood cells. Inadequate tissue oxygenation due to partial vessel blockage constriction can cause a heart attack, angina and transient ischemic attack, which is a precursor to stroke. In these situations, treatment with red blood cell transfusions would not be effective because red blood cells are too large to navigate around blockages.
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain rupture and leak blood into the surrounding tissue which ultimately interferes with the brain's ability to function. BXT-25 is very stable and can easily be administered via intravenous injection. Due to the stable shelf life of the drug, a triage kit for ambulances can be developed for rapid deployment. The kit could be further refined to be reconstituted with saline solution.
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease that typically begins in late middle age or old age. Degeneration of brain cells, called neurons, cause the symptoms of progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation and mood and personality changes. The buildup of misfolded proteins, such as the tau protein and β-amyloid, create the hallmark protein clumps called tangles and plaques seen in Alzheimer’s brains. While these protein clumps are thought to cause neuron death by blocking nerve cell communication and function, the exact relationship between the protein clump formation and neuron death is still unclear.
