YSPSL for Prevention of Ischemic Reperfusion Injury in Patients Undergoing Cadaveric Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

YSPSL-0003 is an extension into 36 patients of the previous 12 patient pilot study YSPSL-0002 under an almost identical study protocol with extended inclusion criteria. Like YSPSL-0002, YSPSL-0003 is a single-center (UCLA), randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Patients are randomly assigned to either active study drug (Active group) or placebo (Control group) prior to transplantation. The active study drug dose includes both a 1 mg/kg IV infusion for the recipient and a 20 mg \[approximately 0.27 mg/kg\] as an ex vivo flush. The doses are administered via 2 separate infusions of study agent: one 20 mg dose into the portal vein of the liver prior to implantation as an ex vivo flush with Viaspan®; and the second infusion of 1 mg/kg intravenously into the recipient, when technically feasible, prior to the hepatic artery anastomosis. Placebo of a volume equivalent to active study drug is prepared for administration to the control group to help maintain the blind. Those patients that experience an intraoperative blood loss of \>10 units, receive an additional 1 mg/kg IV infusion of study agent (or placebo equivalent) at the end of the transplant surgery. The Investigator/Sponsor is blinded to the treatment assignment for each patient. Randomization assignment is maintained by UCLA's clinical pharmacist.