Empowered Patient Podcast

Dr. Harven DeShield is the CEO and Co-Founder of Vivacelle Bio, which is developing a nanoparticle-based treatment called VBI-S to address the underlying causes of septic shock. The treatment works by efficiently redistributing nitric oxide to help regulate blood pressure and improve organ function, reducing the need for traditional vasopressor treatments. Vivacelle is also developing a product to help address hemorrhagic shock and minimize reperfusion injury. Harven explains, "There are seven aspects to septic shock - actually eight. So, first, you have an infection. You have to have an infection, whether it is a bacterial, virus, or fungus. And then, eventually, they give you fluids—your blood pressure drops. And so, they try to correct that by giving you fluids. And when the fluids fail, then you transition from sepsis to septic shock." "Then, you are also dealing with the fact that they put you on vasopressors once you get into septic shock. When they put you on vasopressors, that creates another whole r