Bioweapons

waltky · Oct 6, 2016

Granny once `rastled a man to the ground who was carryin' a chlorine tank - turned out to be a pool guy...

Bioterrorism: HHS Seeks First Potential Antidote to Chlorine Gas
October 3, 2016 - The Department of Health and Human Services is contracting with a Massachusetts company to develop the first potential treatment for chlorine inhalation, which it describes as a "potential terrorism threat."

The United States faces a wide variety of threats to health security -- from new infectious diseases like Zika to bioterrorism and accidents involving deadly gases like chlorine, said Dr. Richard Hatchett, acting director of HHS's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Not being prepared for any of them could cost lives; we must be ready to protect health against the multitude of threats our country faces. The two-year, $15.9-million contract awarded to Radikal Therapeutics, Inc. of Beverly, Massachusetts, could be extended to a total of $84.9 million over seven years.

The company is developing an antidote known as R-107. If early studies are successful, R-107 could begin clinical studies to establish safety and efficacy in humans. Last Thursday's announcement from HHS notes that chlorine gas can have catastrophic consequences in industrial accidents, such as the derailment of a train carrying chlorine in South Carolina in 2005. Nine people died after inhaling the gaas and hundreds were injured. "In addition, chlorine gas has been used as a weapon, for the first time in World War I and repeatedly in the recent Syrian civil war," the announcement said.

BARDA says it continues to seek proposals for the development of effective medical countermeasures and interventions for chemical threats, including new products and new indications for products already in clinical use. "The products must be easy to use in a mass casualty situation and safe and effective for all segments of the population," BARDA said. One day after announcing the contract for a chlorine gas antidote, HHS announced last Friday that the development of an nthrax vaccine is moving forward under a five-year, $198.7-million contract with Maryland-based Emergent BioSolutions.

That contract will fund the remaining development activities required for the company to apply to the Food and Drug Administration for the vaccine to be licensed. Fifteen years ago this month, anthrax was used as a weapon of domestic terrorism in the U.S., and its use remains a threat today, said Dr. Hatchett. BARDA is sponsoring the development of NuThrax to help better protect our nation from this threat. This vaccine could provide protection in fewer doses than the anthrax vaccine currently available, potentially producing better health outcomes if it was needed during a public health emergency. Studies conducted to date with NuThrax indicate that two doses, administered 14 days apart, appear sufficient to stimulate a protective immune response against anthrax.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article...potential-antidote-chlorine-gas-moves-forward
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