Enzon Inc. and American Veterinary Products (AVP) said theyhave filed an investigational new animal drug (INAD)application with the Center for Veterinary Medicine Division ofthe FDA for veterinary use of Enzon's blood substitute PEG-hemoglobin.

"We anticipate that our work in animals will complement ourongoing research into the development of a virus-free,universal blood substitute for humans," said Robert Shorr, vicepresident of research at Enzon (NASDAQ:ENZN) of Piscataway,N.J.

Enzon and AVP, the animal health care subsidiary of injectablepharmaceutical manufacturer GenRx Inc., entered into a jointdevelopment and licensing agreement in March to developEnzon's PEG-hemoglobin product for potential use as a bloodsubstitute in the veterinary market.

An estimated 90,000 blood transfusions were performed onanimals in the U.S. in 1992 and the current banked bloodsupply is very limited. PEG-hemoglobin is intended to serve asa blood substitute that may be used universally without theneed to match blood types.

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