HepaLife Artificial Liver Shows Promise (February 11, 2008)

Similar to dialysis where the function of the failed kidney is replaced by the dialysis machine, HepaMate functions as a bioartificial liver system. HepaLife, a biotech company in Boston, developed an artificial liver that showed positive results of tests that PICM-19 cells inside the bioreactor could function as an external liver. The PICM-19 cells are unique in their ability to maintain liver function by synthesizing 80% of ammonia present in urea and producing a significant amount of area. Both are processes that show promise of substantial clinical applications. PICM-19 cells, which are pig embryonic liver stem cells, are remarkably able to sustain these abilities while displaying characterisitics representative of human liver cells.

I found this article on MedGadget, an internet journal of medical technologies. It is actually the same press release taken from HepaLife's website, which suggests to me that there might be a financial partnership between MedGadget and HepaLife. Currently, the HepaMate is in Phase III of the clinical trials.

Despite all of these positive results, I am still skeptical of the bioartificial liver system that HepaLife is developing. There are a few questions that arise in my mind when using pig embryonic liver stem cells. How are they able to control the pig embryonic liver stem cells proliferation and differentiation in order to sustain functionality? How can they prevent a porcine viral infection from transferring to human tissues and possible creating a pandemic? Have animal rights' advocates not protested the use of pig embryonic liver stem cells in the HepaMate system? The clinical studies show that there is a definite benefit for patients with acute liver failure, but will it make a big enough difference to assist those with chronic liver failure and need a transplant? Do the benefits of the bioartificial liver system outweigh the costs? Will this technology be able to be made as available as renal dialysis machines at centers and in homes?

I don't know how to answer any of these questions, but the health care debate will have a huge impact on many of them. In the United States, liver failure is not as high a priority as kidney failure, but hopefully reforms such as expanding coverage for immunosuppressive drugs and insurance companies working to cover costs for renal dialysis will be applied to a treatment such as the bioartificial liver system as well.

-Robin

No author given, MedGadget, 2/11/08
http://medgadget.com/archives/2008/02/hepalife_artificial_liver_shows_promise.html