Investigators from around the globe met to mark the close of two large trials at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in San Francisco. ITP investigators from the U.S., Canada, and Israel met in San Francisco. PID investigators met at a preview meeting in Dallas earlier this fall.

The trials were the most extensive of their kind, representing 97 ITP patients at 26 centers, and 160 PID patients at 25 sites -- the largest powered, randomized, controlled trials with IGIV in these populations to date. Robust clinical endpoints were introduced for the first time in such a trial, which included validated infections and duration of elevated platelet levels.

Investigators marking the completion of the trials were responsible for conducting pharmacokinetic and efficacy trials for a new chromatography-purified, double-virus inactivated IGIV product. The Bayer Corporation has introduced a Caprylate inactivation for this new IGIV.