CYANIDE IS A RAPIDLY ACTING POISON THAT AFFECTS RESPIRATION IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS.

CYANIDE IS A RAPIDLY ACTING POISON THAT AFFECTS RESPIRATION IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS. VICTIMS MAY DIE IN MINUTES. ENZON, INC. IS THE EXCLUSIVE LICENSEE FOR A PATENTED PROCESS FOR THE CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF ENZYMES THAT GREATLY EXTEND THEIR BLOOD CIRCULATING LIFE, ELIMINATES OR MINIMIZES IMMUNOGENICITY, AND INCREASES STABILITY. ENZYMES THUS MODIFIED ("PEG-ENZYMES") ARE EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC AGENTS. RHODANESE IS AN ENZYME THAT DETOXIFIES CYANIDE. ENZON WILL PREPARE PEG-RHODANESE AND EVALUATE IT FOR THERAPEUTIC EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST CYANIDE POISONING IN MICE. THE OBJECT IS TO DEVELOP A THERAPY THAT IS FAR SUPERIOR TO THOSE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE PROPHYLACTIC EFFECTIVENESS OF PEG-RHODANESE WILL BE EVALUATED. THE GREATLY EXTENDED BLOOD LIFE OF PEG-RHODANESE SHOULD MAKE IT EFFECTIVE EVEN WHEN INJECTED SEVERAL HOURS PRIOR TO CYANIDE ADMINISTRATION. THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WILL FEATURE (A) THE PURIFICATION OF RHODANESE; (B) ITS CHEMICAL MODIFICATION TO PRODUCE PEG-RHODANESE; (C) AN EVALUATION OF THE ACTIVITY, STABILITY, BLOOD CIRCULATING LIFE, AND IMMUNOGENICITY OF PEG-RHODANESE, AND (D) EVALUATION OF PEGRHODANESE'S THERAPEUTIC AND PROPHYLACTIC EFFECTIVENESS.