SAN DIEGO - Aethlon Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEMD), a medical device company, recently announced results from a preclinical study indicating that its Hemopurifier® can remove harmful substances from the fluids used to preserve donated kidneys. The findings, published in a preprint on bioRxiv on August 24, suggest the device could help improve the outcomes of kidney transplants.
The study focused on the Hemopurifier®'s ability to eliminate extracellular vesicles (EVs) and microRNAs, which are believed to contribute to complications in kidney transplants from extended criteria donors. These donors are typically associated with higher rates of poor graft function and acute rejection in recipients. The Hemopurifier® is designed to filter these and other harmful entities from blood and biological fluids.
In the proof-of-concept study, perfusates from four discarded donor kidneys that underwent Controlled Oxygenated Rewarming (COR), a type of machine perfusion, were treated with the Hemopurifier®. The treatment resulted in a significant reduction of EVs and microRNAs.
Steven LaRosa, MD, Senior Author of the paper and Chief Medical Officer at Aethlon Medical, emphasized the importance of improving kidney transplant outcomes due to the shortage of donor kidneys. James Frakes, Interim CEO and CFO of Aethlon Medical, expressed optimism about the study's implications for future clinical trials.
Aethlon Medical's primary focus remains on planned clinical trials in India and Australia, targeting patients with solid tumors. However, these new findings have opened the possibility of adding a transplant indication to the Hemopurifier®'s pipeline.
The Hemopurifier® has received FDA Breakthrough Device designation for treating advanced or metastatic cancer and life-threatening viruses that lack approved therapies. As this study progresses, the company is considering further preclinical studies and ultimately a clinical trial to demonstrate the Hemopurifier®'s benefits in kidney transplants.
This report is based on a press release statement and provides a factual account of the study's findings without endorsing the claims.
In other recent news, Aethlon Medical has reported its financial results for the fiscal first quarter of 2025, announcing a cash balance of $9.1 million and a net loss of $2.6 million. The company is advancing its Hemopurifier technology, a blood filtration system targeting harmful exosomes and viruses, with a clinical trial set to begin in Australia for patients with solid tumors. Concurrently, Aethlon is conducting a COVID-19 trial in India.
Operating expenses for the company have seen a decrease, with further cost reductions planned by changing professional service providers. However, expenses are projected to rise due to increased clinical trial activities in Australia. These are among the recent developments for Aethlon.
The company is preparing for increased clinical trial activities in Australia, with site initiation and training planned. Aethlon is also in the process of hiring for a technical position to support clinical trial sites. Despite the net loss, Aethlon maintains a focus on its potential to address significant health challenges, including pandemics like COVID-19.
InvestingPro Insights
Aethlon Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEMD) has been making strides in the medical device sector with its Hemopurifier® technology. As the company explores the potential for improving kidney transplant outcomes, investors are closely monitoring AEMD's financial health and stock performance. According to InvestingPro data, Aethlon Medical holds a market capitalization of $7.16 million, reflecting the size of the company within the market. Despite the potential of its technology, the company has not been profitable over the last twelve months, with an adjusted P/E ratio of -0.66, suggesting that investors are wary of its future earnings potential.
The stock price has experienced a significant return over the last week of 10.48%, and even more impressively, a return of 39.7% over the last month. This recent performance could be indicative of growing investor confidence in the company's research developments or a response to broader market trends.
InvestingPro Tips highlight some critical financial considerations for AEMD. The company holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which is a positive sign for financial stability. However, it is also quickly burning through cash, which could raise concerns about long-term sustainability without additional funding or revenue streams. Moreover, analysts do not anticipate the company will be profitable this year, which is an essential factor for investors to consider.
For those interested in a deeper dive into AEMD's financial outlook and stock performance, InvestingPro offers additional insights. There are 14 more InvestingPro Tips available, providing a comprehensive analysis that could help investors make more informed decisions. Visit https://www.investing.com/pro/AEMD for a full list of tips and real-time metrics.
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