Chiron Corporation and ZymeQuest Inc. announced that they have formed a partnership to develop and commercialize ZymeQuest's enzymatic conversion system, which converts groups A, B and AB red blood cells to enzyme-converted group O (ECO) red blood cells. Under the terms of the agreement, Chiron will share in the costs of developing and commercializing the enzymatic conversion system. In addition, Chiron will make an equity investment in ZymeQuest and obtain worldwide marketing and commercial rights for the technology. ZymeQuest will continue to be responsible for developing and manufacturing its enzyme conversion products. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"This agreement represents a major advance for Chiron in the realm of blood safety," said Jack Goldstein, president, Chiron Blood Testing. "ZymeQuest's innovative technology will fill a critical need for blood and transfusion centers. All group A, B, and AB red cells will be able to be converted to ECO, which, along with Group O, can be transfused to all individuals without transfusion reaction. This technology will decrease the potential difficulties associated with mismatched blood and also reduce inventory problems at blood banks caused by shortages of group O red cells. In addition, the technology could reduce the amount of donor blood discarded because of outdating. This partnership is another example of Chiron's commitment to looking for new ways to meet the needs of our customers and helping improve blood safety worldwide."

"This alliance with Chiron is an important milestone for ZymeQuest," said Douglas L Clibourn, president and CEO of ZymeQuest. "By assuring and maintaining a safe and adequate blood supply in a cost effective manner, the delivery of an all group O and ECO inventory of red blood cells could have a significant logistical and financial impact on the worldwide blood delivery system."

Group O red cells are known as universal red blood cells because they can be transfused safely to recipients of any ABO blood group without the risk of morbidity or mortality associated with a transfusion of incompatible red cells. Preliminary clinical trial results indicate that ECO red cells will function like group O universal red cells. A universally transfusable inventory of red blood cells could decrease the cost and complexity of inventory management, reduce the number of red cells lost due to outdating, and improve the safety of red cell transfusions.

Chiron Blood Testing is dedicated to preventing the spread of infectious diseases through the development of novel blood-screening tools that protect the world's blood supply.

ZymeQuest, Inc., located in Beverly, Massachusetts, is a privately owned company pioneering the discovery, development and commercialization of enzymatic blood conversion products for use in transfusion medicine.