Vijay K Singh1,2, Briana K Hanlon1,2, Paola T Santiago1,2, Thomas M Seed3. 1. a Division of Radioprotection, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics , F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda , MD , U.S.A. 2. b Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute , Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda , MD , U.S.A. 3. c Tech Micro Services , Bethesda , MD , U.S.A.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Terrorist attacks, with their intent to maximize psychological and economic damage as well as inflicting sickness and death on given targeted populations, are an ever-growing worldwide concern in government and public sectors as they become more frequent, violent, and sensational. If given the chance, it is likely that terrorists will use radiological or nuclear weapons. To thwart these sinister efforts, both physical and medical countermeasures against these weapons are currently being researched and developed so that they can be utilized by the first responders, military, and medical providers alike. This is the third article of a three-part series in which we have reviewed additional radiation countermeasures that are currently under early preclinical phases of development using largely animal models and have listed and discussed clinical support measures, including agents used for radiation-induced emesis, as well as countermeasures not requiring Food and Drug Administration approval. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the significant progress that has been made in this area during the last several years, additional effort is needed in order to push promising new agents, currently under development, through the regulatory pipeline. This pipeline for new promising drugs appears to be unreasonably slow and cumbersome; possible reasons for this inefficiency are briefly discussed. Significant and continued effort needs to be afforded to this research and development area, as to date, there is no approved radioprotector that can be administered prior to high dose radiation exposure. This represents a very significant, unmet medical need and a significant security issue. A large number of agents with potential to interact with different biological targets are under development. In the next few years, several additional radiation countermeasures will likely receive Food and Drug Administration approval, increasing treatment options for victims exposed to unwanted ionizing irradiation.
PURPOSE: Terrorist attacks, with their intent to maximize psychological and economic damage as well as inflicting sickness and death on given targeted populations, are an ever-growing worldwide concern in government and public sectors as they become more frequent, violent, and sensational. If given the chance, it is likely that terrorists will use radiological or nuclear weapons. To thwart these sinister efforts, both physical and medical countermeasures against these weapons are currently being researched and developed so that they can be utilized by the first responders, military, and medical providers alike. This is the third article of a three-part series in which we have reviewed additional radiation countermeasures that are currently under early preclinical phases of development using largely animal models and have listed and discussed clinical support measures, including agents used for radiation-induced emesis, as well as countermeasures not requiring Food and Drug Administration approval. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the significant progress that has been made in this area during the last several years, additional effort is needed in order to push promising new agents, currently under development, through the regulatory pipeline. This pipeline for new promising drugs appears to be unreasonably slow and cumbersome; possible reasons for this inefficiency are briefly discussed. Significant and continued effort needs to be afforded to this research and development area, as to date, there is no approved radioprotector that can be administered prior to high dose radiation exposure. This represents a very significant, unmet medical need and a significant security issue. A large number of agents with potential to interact with different biological targets are under development. In the next few years, several additional radiation countermeasures will likely receive Food and Drug Administration approval, increasing treatment options for victims exposed to unwanted ionizing irradiation.
Authors: Brian L Fish; Thomas J MacVittie; Feng Gao; Jayashree Narayanan; Tracy Gasperetti; Dana Scholler; Yuri Sheinin; Heather A Himburg; Barry Hart; Meetha Medhora Journal: Health Phys Date: 2021-10-01 Impact factor: 2.922
Authors: Yaoxiang Li; Michael Girgis; Stephen Y Wise; Oluseyi O Fatanmi; Thomas M Seed; Manoj Maniar; Amrita K Cheema; Vijay K Singh Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 4.996