Researchers have developed a device that filters the protein galectin-3 from the blood, showing improved survival in rat and pig models of sepsis. The approach, tested by a team in China, reduced mortality compared to controls. Human trials are planned for 2027.
People with sepsis face high death rates, with 32 percent dying within 90 days and 39 percent for septic shock, despite existing treatments. Isaac Eliaz at the Amitabha Medical Clinic in Santa Rosa, California, led the development of an apheresis device that uses antibodies to selectively remove galectin-3, a protein linked to higher mortality in sepsis patients. Eliaz noted that galectin-3 plays roles in cell regulation and immune activation, and is implicated in various diseases including sepsis. Studies found elevated galectin-3 levels in 87 sepsis patients compared to 27 healthy volunteers, with levels dropping among survivors. The device was tested by Zhiyong Peng's team at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. In rats with sepsis induced by intestinal puncture, 57 percent of 28 treated animals survived, versus 25 percent of controls receiving sham treatment. In miniature pigs given lipopolysaccharide to trigger sepsis, 69 percent of 16 treated pigs survived under intensive care, compared to 27 percent of 15 sham-treated ones. Djillali Annane at Raymond Poincaré Hospital in France called the approach innovative, praising consistent results across models. However, he stressed the need for mechanistic understanding, replication by independent groups, and tests in primates before human use. Eliaz Therapeutics, Eliaz's company, is seeking funding for a randomized clinical trial in people targeted for 2027.
