The BioLogic-DT™ and the saga of Liver Dialysis™

Our small R&D company created a novel extracorporeal system for the treatment of hepatic coma and drug overdose, in which membrane motion in a screen-plate dialyzer served as a blood pump and also mixed dialysate containing powdered carbon. Early clinical trials of the Biologic-DT™ were successful in the treatment of patients with hepatic coma (especially from A-on-C liver failure) and FDA gave marketing approval. The BioLogic-DT™ was licensed to a venture capital-backed startup. It was marketed too widely and used in some patients without a chance for recovery or transplant. The licensing company failed, and the BioLogic-DT was not remarketed. The MARS™ device included albumin as a sorbent in dialysate, and clinical trials of this device also showed a benefit in the treatment of hepatic coma.