Novel Biologic Countermeasure for Acute Radiation Syndrome

Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) is an acute illness caused by irradiation of a significant portion of the body by a high dose of ionizing radiation (IR) in a short period of time. Global proliferation of radioactive and nuclear materials has resulted in increased threat of weaponized exposure or inadvertent exposure resulting from industrial accidents such as the case with the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station. Presence of nuclear weapons within hostile nations combined with continued prospects of US involvement in geo-political conflicts around the world presents a real threat of ionizing radiation exposure to US Department of Defense (DoD) service personnel. It is imperative that the DoD be prepared with necessary countermeasures. We propose a novel biologic as a medical countermeasure. The phase I effort has shown the feasibility of the proposed MCM. A small animal study will be performed to test the effectiveness of the MCM as a prophylactic for ARS. Non clinical GLP pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data will be collected to support the subsequent phase III studies. A drug formulation strategy will be developed.