Subject: HemaCare Directors Resign Over the Pace Of Project for AIDS
Date: Published: 2/19/91 (48 lines)
Source: Wall Street Journal. Copyright Dow Jones & Co. Inc.

    Who's News:
    HemaCare Directors
    Resign Over the Pace
    Of Project for AIDS

    SHERMAN OAKS, Calif.  -- HemaCare Corp. said two outside
 directors resigned because they disagreed with continuing the
 pace of a HemaCare research project to develop a human
 plasma-based treatment for patients with AIDS or AIDS-related
 complex.
    This provider of specialty blood products and services
 said Antone J. Lazos, chairman and chief executive officer of
 Medical Imaging Centers of America Inc., San Diego, and
 Thomas O. Gephart, senior partner of the Ventana Venture
 Fund, Irvine, Calif., left the board.  The company said the
 two quit because they wanted the research project to slow
 down until the company received government, private or equity
 funding.  Currently the project is funded solely by the
 company.
    The two former directors couldn't be reached for comment.
    Hal I. Lieberman, president of HemaCare, said the
 treatment involves using high-antibody plasma from
 HIV-positive but healthy individuals to treat HIV-infected
 and unhealthy people.  The project, called Passive Hyperimmune
 Therapy, began clinical trials last month with the first of a
 series of monthly infusions of high-antibody plasma into
 ARC/AIDS patients.  Some 225 patients in Los Angeles and San
 Francisco are participating in the clinical study.
    HemaCare reported a net loss for its third quarter of
 $291,000, or nine cents a share, a great deal of which was
 attributable to expenses of the Passive Hyperimmune Therapy
 project, Mr. Lieberman said.  The company holds commercial
 rights on the treatment in California.  The company hasn't yet
 reported 1990 earnings.
    HemaCare said two new directors were elected to succeed
 Mr. Lazos and Mr. Gephart.  They are Joseph Ashley, chief
 executive officer of ProCyte Corp., Kirkland, Wash., and
 Glenn Bartlett, manager for business development of Beckman
 Instruments Inc., Fullerton, Calif.

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