Cubist begins dosing in CONSERV-1 trial

USA-based Cubist Pharmaceuticals has begun dosing in the Phase II CONSERV-1 trial with ecallantide for the reduction of blood loss volume  during on-pump cardiothoracic surgery.

Ecallantide is a potent inhibitor of plasma kallikrein, and CONSERV-1  will evaluate the effects of such inhibition in patients on  cardiopulmonary bypass during cardiothoracic surgery. Such surgical  environments are associated with the activation of plasma kallikrein and  subsequent activation of coagulation, fibrinolytic and inflammatory  cascades, which likely contribute to blood loss and blood transfusion  requirements in the perioperative setting.