Innovative Peptide Therapy May triple Survival Rates in Severe Hemorrhage Cases

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in collaboration with the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps have made a significant breakthrough in treating hemorrhagic shock, a critical condition caused by substantial blood loss that is a leading cause of preventable death in trauma victims worldwide.

The study, conducted by Dr. Ariel Furer and Dr. Maya Simchoni from the Institute for Research in Military Medicine—a joint initiative between Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School and the IDF Medical Corps—demonstrates that activating Protein Kinase C epsilon (PKC-ε) can markedly improve early survival and physiological stability following severe blood loss.

Published in Scientific Reports, the research utilized a controlled experiment with a pig model, where hemorrhagic shock was induced by removing 35% of the animals' blood volume. Remarkably, animals treated with a PKC-ε activating peptide shortly after bleeding onset showed a survival rate of 73%, compared to only 25% in untreated animals. The treated group also maintained better cardiovascular parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output—vital indicators of effective physiological response in trauma.

Further analysis revealed that mitochondria—the cell’s energy producers—showed enhanced activity in the treated animals’ heart tissues, suggesting that PKC-ε activation helps preserve organ energy levels during critical stress, potentially shielding tissues from further damage.

The findings have important implications for trauma care. Current treatments mainly involve fluid resuscitation, which can sometimes worsen tissue damage through ischemic-reperfusion injury. This new approach involving PKC-ε activator peptides could reduce such adverse effects and improve survival outcomes.

According to Dr. Furer, this therapy offers a promising new tool for emergency medicine, especially in battlefield and civilian trauma scenarios. He emphasizes that while the results are encouraging, further clinical research is essential before this treatment can be adopted widely.

Dr. Furer concludes that these advances could pave the way for targeted therapies administered by first responders, potentially saving many lives around the world. Future clinical trials are necessary to validate these initial findings and facilitate practical implementation.

This research signifies a notable step forward in trauma medicine, opening avenues for new treatments that address the challenges of severe blood loss and hemorrhagic shock.