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CytoSorbents Announces HotSwap™ Launch, Renewed Aferetica Partnership, and New Clinical Evidence at ISICEM 2026

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CytoSorbents (NASDAQ: CTSO) announced three developments at ISICEM 2026: the immediate launch of HotSwap™ to enable faster adsorber exchanges, renewal of its exclusive Italian distribution with Aferetica, and new clinical data (COSMOS registry n=306 and multiple studies) strengthening CytoSorb® evidence.

Key clinical highlights include reductions in vasopressor needs, improved oxygenation, myoglobin declines in rhabdomyolysis, and a COVID-19 meta-analysis showing a mortality trend.

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Positive

  • HotSwap™ immediate commercial availability
  • COSMOS registry: n=306 multi‑country real‑world data
  • COSMOS: vasopressor and oxygenation improvements (p<0.0001)
  • Rhabdomyolysis substudy: myoglobin reduced ~8,800→~3,000 µg/L
  • Renewed exclusive Italy distribution with Aferetica (>10 years)

Negative

  • Toxic Shock case series: very small sample (n=7)
  • Rhabdomyolysis substudy limited size (n=45)
  • COVID-19 meta-analysis shows trend, not definitive mortality benefit (OR 0.74)

News Market Reaction – CTSO

-1.86% 2.1x vol
4 alerts
-1.86% Session close to close
-14.3% Trough Tracked
$43.94M Market Cap
2.1x Rel. Volume

In the Mar 19 session, CTSO declined 1.86%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -14.3% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 4 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. Trading volume was elevated at 2.1x the daily average, suggesting increased selling activity.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement combines the launch of HotSwap™, renewal of the Aferetica partnership in Italy, an...
Analysis

This announcement combines the launch of HotSwap™, renewal of the Aferetica partnership in Italy, and multiple ISICEM 2026 data sets, including the n=306 COSMOS registry and an n=875 COVID-19 meta-analysis. It extends a strategic pattern seen in the November 11, 2024 India partnership. Investors may watch how these collaborations translate into adoption, as well as future updates on critical outcomes like mortality, organ support needs, and long-term survival.

Key Figures

COSMOS Registry size: n=306 COSMOS significance: p<0.0001 ICU mortality: 32.7% +5 more
8 metrics
COSMOS Registry size n=306 Real-world critical care outcomes across 23 sites in 6 countries
COSMOS significance p<0.0001 Reductions in vasopressor needs, improved oxygenation and fluid balance
ICU mortality 32.7% Observed ICU mortality in COSMOS, reported as lower than predicted
90-day survival 56.5% COSMOS registry 90-day survival with >90% dialysis independence
Rhabdomyolysis substudy size n=45 CytoSorb use in rhabdomyolysis patients
Myoglobin reduction ~8,800 → ~3,000 µg/L; p<0.0001 Rhabdomyolysis substudy myoglobin levels pre- and post-treatment
ICU survival (rhabdo) 71% ICU survival in rhabdomyolysis substudy; 8% dialysis-dependent at 90 days
COVID-19 meta-analysis size n=875; OR 0.74 Meta-analysis showing trend toward reduced mortality, no evidence of harm

Previous Partnership Reports

1 past event · Latest: Nov 11 (Positive)
Same Type Pattern 1 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Nov 11 India distribution partnership Positive +25.7% Strategic partnership to expand CytoSorb critical care reach in India.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Past partnership news has coincided with a strong positive price reaction.

Recent Company History

In November 2024, CytoSorbents announced a strategic partnership with Converge Biotech to expand CytoSorb use in India, targeting sepsis and broader critical care. That partnership news saw a 25.68% positive move the next day. Today’s ISICEM 2026 update combines a renewed Aferetica partnership in Italy with the HotSwap™ launch and new clinical data, extending the theme of international collaboration and adoption in critical care and organ transplantation.

Key Terms

hemoadsorption, cytokine release syndrome, car-t cell therapy, sofa scores, +2 more
6 terms
hemoadsorption medical
"Hemoadsorption as part of an individualized patient concept in Intensive Care – Key"
Hemoadsorption is a medical blood‑cleaning technique that passes a patient’s blood through a device or cartridge that acts like a sponge to remove unwanted substances such as toxins, excess inflammatory molecules, or drug residues. Investors care because these devices represent a clinical treatment platform whose commercial success depends on demonstrated patient benefit, regulatory approvals, hospital adoption and reimbursement, all of which affect sales potential and valuation in the medical device market.
cytokine release syndrome medical
"The new kid on the block – Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) after CAR-T cell therapy"
An intense immune overreaction in which the body's defense system releases a large surge of signaling proteins, causing fever, low blood pressure, breathing trouble or organ stress; imagine the immune system's alarm going into overdrive and flooding the body with emergency responders. Investors care because this side effect can slow or block regulatory approval, increase clinical trial costs and liabilities, limit how widely a therapy can be used, and therefore affect a drug's market value and sales potential.
car-t cell therapy medical
"Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) after CAR-T cell therapyDr. Peter Pickkers, Nijm"
A therapy that takes a patient’s own immune cells, reprograms them in a lab to recognize and attack specific disease cells, then returns them to the body—think of training and equipping a guard dog to find a particular intruder. Investors care because these treatments can offer dramatic clinical benefits, carry high development and manufacturing costs, and create new, often lucrative markets if they receive regulatory approval and payer support.
sofa scores medical
"Toxic Shock Syndrome Case Series (n=7)Rapid improvements in SOFA scores, lactate,"
Sofa scores are numerical ratings that assess the overall health or performance of a company, project, or investment, much like a report card that summarizes various aspects into a single number. They help investors quickly gauge the stability or quality of an opportunity, guiding decisions by providing a clear snapshot of potential risks and strengths. These scores simplify complex information, making it easier to compare options and make informed choices.
meta-analysis medical
"Meta-Analysis in COVID-19 (n=875)Trend toward reduced mortality (OR 0.74)No evidenc"
A meta-analysis combines results from multiple independent studies on the same question to produce a single, more reliable estimate of an effect or outcome. Like averaging many temperature readings to get a truer picture of the weather, it reduces random noise and highlights consistent signals; investors use it to assess how strong and reliable the scientific or economic evidence is, which affects regulatory outlook, product prospects, and valuation risk.
odds ratio medical
"Meta-Analysis in COVID-19 (n=875)Trend toward reduced mortality (OR 0.74)No evidenc"
The odds ratio compares how likely an outcome is in one group versus another by dividing the odds of the event in the first group by the odds in the second. Think of it like comparing the odds of a coin landing heads in two different scenarios; a number above 1 means the event is more likely in the first group, below 1 means it is less likely. Investors use it to quantify how strongly a treatment, risk factor, or policy changes the chance of an outcome, which helps assess clinical trial results, regulatory risk, and potential impact on a company’s prospects.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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PRINCETON, N.J., March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CytoSorbents Corporation (NASDAQ: CTSO), a leader in the treatment of life-threatening conditions in the intensive care unit and cardiac surgery using blood purification, today announced three major developments at the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (ISICEM) this week in Brussels, Belgium - one of the largest global conferences dedicated to critical care medicine: 

  1. The introduction of HotSwap™ by CytoSorbents – The New CytoSorb exchange system
  2. The renewal of its long-standing partnership with Aferetica Srl in Italy, and
  3. New clinical data reinforcing the growing body of evidence supporting CytoSorb® therapy

CytoSorbents Launches HotSwap™ to Simplify and Optimize Therapy

CytoSorbents announced the immediate availability of HotSwap™, an innovative solution designed to enable rapid, seamless exchange of CytoSorb adsorbers during the treatment of critically-ill patients. HotSwap™ is designed to:

  • Enable faster, easier device exchanges – particularly in high-acuity patients requiring frequent changes
  • Facilitate the safe return of blood from used devices back to the patient
  • Streamline workflows for ICU staff, reducing nursing burden and improving treatment consistency

"In critically ill patients, timing, dosing, and treatment intensity are essential to improving outcomes," stated Dr. Phillip Chan, Chief Executive Officer of CytoSorbents. "HotSwap enables clinicians to more easily and efficiently treat the right patient, at the right time, with the right dose. Early user feedback has been highly positive, reinforcing our decision to make this technology broadly available." 

Dr. Chan added, "In life-threatening diseases such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, liver failure, and trauma, unstable patients often require multiple device changes per day in the early phase of treatment to control deadly massive inflammation or to reduce high concentrations of toxic substances that can otherwise lead to organ failure and death. HotSwap makes this process faster, safer, and more practical, while preserving valuable blood volume and reducing the workload on ICU teams."

CytoSorbents Renews Strategic Partnership with Aferetica

CytoSorbents also announced the renewal of its exclusive distribution agreement with Aferetica Srl in Italy, extending a successful collaboration spanning more than a decade. The partnership has supported widespread adoption of CytoSorb across critical care and cardiac surgery in Italy. The companies have also collaborated on Aferetica's innovative PerLife® organ perfusion platform, which integrates CytoSorbents' PerSorb® cartridge to improve organ preservation and rehabilitation for transplantation.

"Aferetica has been an exceptional long-term partner," stated Dr. Chan. "CEO Mauro Atti and his team, working closely with leading clinicians and researchers in the country, have played a critical role in advancing both the clinical adoption and scientific understanding of CytoSorb therapy. We are excited to continue working together to expand innovation in blood purification and organ transplantation."

Mr. Mauro Atti, Chief Executive Officer of Aferetica SRL stated, "We are happy to continue our successful collaboration with CytoSorbents that has contributed to the growth of our companies and importantly, the care and recovery of many patients. For more than ten years, we have shared the vision that blood purification can significantly improve outcomes in critically ill patients. Together we have successfully expanded from sepsis into liver failure and other critical illnesses, and now organ transplantation. We look forward to many more years of continued progress and shared success."

New Clinical Data and Scientific Leadership at ISICEM 2026

Today, CytoSorbents is hosting a featured symposium at ISICEM entitled:

"Hemoadsorption as part of an individualized patient concept in Intensive Care – Key Learnings and Best Practices"
Chair: Dr. Ricard Ferrer, Barcelona/Spain and Dr. Zsolt Molnar, Budapest/Hungary

  • The importance of timing and dosing in different indications
    Dr. Gerd Klinkmann, Rostock/Germany
  • Update on drug removal – we are on the safe side if we do it right
    Dr. Gabriella Bottari, Rome/Italy
  • The new kid on the block – Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) after CAR-T cell therapy
    Dr. Peter Pickkers, Nijmegen/The Netherlands

In addition, multiple abstracts and poster presentations presented at ISICEM further strengthen the clinical evidence base for CytoSorb therapy (click on title for full abstract):

COSMOS Registry – Real-World Critical Care Outcomes (n=306, 23 sites, 6 countries)

  • Significant reductions in vasopressor requirements, improved oxygenation, and fluid balance (all p<0.0001)
  • ICU mortality of 32.7%, lower than predicted by severity scores
  • 90-day survival of 56.5%, with >90% dialysis independence

Rhabdomyolysis Substudy (n=45)

  • Significant reduction in myoglobin levels (~8,800 → ~3,000 µg/L, p<0.0001)
  • Improved kidney function markers
  • 71% ICU survival; only 8% dialysis-dependent at 90 days

Toxic Shock Syndrome Case Series (n=7)

  • Rapid improvements in SOFA scores, lactate, and inflammatory biomarkers
  • Shock reversal in 6 of 7 patients; 6 survivors to ICU discharge

In Vitro Comparative Study

  • CytoSorb demonstrated the strongest reduction of inflammatory cytokines versus competing hemoperfusion systems
  • Competing systems showed limited efficacy or unfavorable inflammatory responses

Meta-Analysis in COVID-19 (n=875)

  • Trend toward reduced mortality (OR 0.74)
  • No evidence of harm, supporting continued use in hyperinflammatory conditions

"These data and clinical experiences continue to reinforce CytoSorb's role as a versatile, frontline blood purification therapy across a broad range of critical illnesses," added Dr. Chan. "Together with innovations like HotSwap™, we are making it easier for clinicians to deliver consistent, high-quality care to the sickest patients."

About CytoSorbents Corporation (NASDAQ: CTSO)

CytoSorbents Corporation is a leader in the treatment of life-threatening conditions in the intensive care unit and cardiac surgery through blood purification. CytoSorbents' proprietary blood purification technologies are based on biocompatible, highly porous polymer beads that can actively remove toxic substances from blood and other bodily fluids by pore capture and surface adsorption. Cartridges filled with these beads can be used with standard blood pumps already in the hospital (e.g. dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy or CRRT, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO, and heart-lung machines), where blood is repeatedly recirculated outside the body, through our cartridges where toxic substances are removed, and then back into the body. CytoSorbents' technologies are used in a number of broad applications. Specifically, two important applications are 1) the removal of blood thinners during and after cardiothoracic surgery to reduce the risk of severe bleeding, and 2) the removal of inflammatory agents and toxins in common critical illnesses that can lead to massive inflammation, organ failure and patient death. The breadth of these critical illnesses includes, for example, sepsis, burn injury, trauma, lung injury, liver failure, cytokine storm and cytokine release syndrome, and pancreatitis as well as the removal of liver toxins that accumulate in acute liver dysfunction or failure, and the removal of myoglobin in severe rhabdomyolysis that can otherwise lead to renal failure. In these diseases, the risk of death can be extremely high, and there are few, if any, effective treatments.

CytoSorbents' lead product, CytoSorb®, is approved in the European Union and distributed in over 70 countries worldwide, with more than 300,000 devices used cumulatively to date. CytoSorb® was originally launched in the European Union under CE mark as the first cytokine adsorber. Additional CE mark extensions were granted for bilirubin and myoglobin removal in clinical conditions such as liver disease and trauma, respectively, and for ticagrelor and rivaroxaban removal in cardiothoracic surgery procedures. CytoSorb® has also received FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States for use in adult critically ill COVID-19 patients with impending or confirmed respiratory failure. CytoSorb® is not yet approved or cleared in the United States.

In the U.S. and Canada, CytoSorbents is developing the DrugSorb®-ATR antithrombotic removal system, an investigational device based on an equivalent polymer technology to CytoSorb®, to reduce the severity of perioperative bleeding in high-risk surgery due to blood thinning drugs. It has received two FDA Breakthrough Device Designations: one for the removal of ticagrelor and another for the removal of the direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) apixaban and rivaroxaban in a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit during urgent cardiothoracic surgery. The Company is actively pursuing regulatory approval of DrugSorb®-ATR with the U.S. FDA and will pursue regulatory approval with Health Canada with better visibility from the FDA. DrugSorb®-ATR is not yet granted or approved in either the U.S. or Canada.

The Company has numerous marketed products and products under development based upon this unique blood purification technology protected by many issued U.S. and international patents and registered trademarks, and multiple patent applications pending, including ECOS-300CY®, VetResQ®, Purifi®, HotSwap™, CytoSorb-XL™, HemoDefend-RBC™, HemoDefend-BGA™, K+ontrol™, DrugSorb®, ContrastSorb, and others. For more information, please visit the Company's website at https://ir.cytosorbents.com/ and follow us on Facebook and X and LinkedIn

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, future targets and outlooks for our business, representations and contentions, and the outcome of our regulatory submissions, and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as "may," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should be aware that the forward-looking statements in this press release represent management's current judgment and expectations, but our actual results, events and performance could differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, our restructuring of our direct sales team and strategy in Germany, ability to successfully obtain U.S. FDA and Health Canada marketing authorization or approval, our ability to complete our strategic workforce and cost reduction plan to reduce costs, optimize operations, and achieve cash-flow break-even in the first quarter of 2026, our ability to appropriately finance the Company, and the risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, as updated by the risks reported in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in the press releases and other communications to shareholders issued by us from time to time which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors which may affect our business. We caution you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, other than as required under the Federal securities laws.

Please Click to Follow Us on Facebook and X

U.S. Company Contact:
Peter J. Mariani, Chief Financial Officer
pmariani@cytosorbents.com

Investor Relations Contacts:
Aman Patel, CFA & Adanna G. Alexander, PhD
ICR Healthcare
ir@cytosorbents.com

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cytosorbents-announces-hotswap-launch-renewed-aferetica-partnership-and-new-clinical-evidence-at-isicem-2026-302718810.html

SOURCE Cytosorbents Corp

FAQ

What is HotSwap™ launched by CytoSorbents (CTSO) on March 19, 2026?

HotSwap™ is a rapid adsorber exchange system now available for clinical use. According to the company, HotSwap enables faster, safer device swaps, preserves blood volume, and reduces ICU staff burden to support frequent exchanges in unstable patients.

How does the renewed Aferetica partnership affect CytoSorbents (CTSO) in Italy?

The renewal extends exclusive Italian distribution with an established partner. According to the company, Aferetica will continue promoting CytoSorb across critical care and integrate PerSorb cartridges in organ perfusion workstreams.

What are the main COSMOS registry results CytoSorbents (CTSO) reported at ISICEM 2026?

COSMOS (n=306) showed significant vasopressor reductions and improved oxygenation (p<0.0001). According to the company, ICU mortality was 32.7% and 90‑day survival was 56.5% with high dialysis independence.

What did the rhabdomyolysis substudy presented by CytoSorbents (CTSO) show?

The substudy (n=45) reported myoglobin fell roughly from 8,800 to 3,000 µg/L (p<0.0001). According to the company, kidney markers improved and 71% of patients survived the ICU with low 90‑day dialysis dependence.

How strong is the evidence from small case series and meta-analysis cited by CytoSorbents (CTSO)?

Evidence includes case series and a meta-analysis showing a mortality trend (OR 0.74) but not definitive proof. According to the company, findings support continued use while acknowledging heterogeneity and sample size limits.

Will HotSwap™ likely change clinical workflows for CytoSorb therapy (CTSO)?

HotSwap™ is intended to streamline ICU workflows and reduce nursing workload during frequent exchanges. According to the company, early user feedback has been highly positive and the device is immediately available for clinical use.