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Re: Article: U.S. FDA OKs drugs to counter radiation attack
You mean it isn't already available??? <grin>
Jim
>>> John Jacobus <crispy_bird@yahoo.com> 8/11/2004 17:43:25 >>>
How long do you think it will be before these are sold
on the Internet, real or counterfeit?
--- Jim Hardeman <Jim_Hardeman@dnr.state.ga.us> wrote:
> Colleagues:
>
> See
>
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N11442422.htm
>
>
> Jim Hardeman
> Jim_Hardeman@dnr.state.ga.us
>
> =================
>
> U.S. FDA OKs drugs to counter radiation attack
> 11 Aug 2004 19:59:40 GMT
>
> WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and
> Drug Administration on Wednesday approved two drugs
> to treat people who are exposed to plutonium or two
> other types of radioactive materials that could be
> used in a terror attack, opening the way for mass
> distribution of the drugs.
>
> The FDA's action means the injectable drugs, which
> also treat americium or curium contamination, would
> be available by prescription -- presumably for
> anyone who wanted them even before an attack took
> place, agency officials said.
>
> "The approval of these two drugs is another example
> of FDA's readiness and commitment to protecting
> Americans against all terrorist threats," said
> Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford.
>
> Both drugs -- penetrate calcium trisodium injection
> (Ca-DTPA) and penetrate zinc trisodium injection
> (Zn-DTPA) -- have been available for decades for use
> in contamination emergencies, the FDA said.
>
> The FDA considered the two drugs, made by Germany's
> Hameln Pharmaceuticals GmBH, investigational prior
> to the approval, which limited the amount available.
>
> In September 2003 the agency announced the medicines
> could safely decontaminate patients with certain
> kinds of radiation exposure and encouraged companies
> to step forward to make them.
>
> Wednesday's approval provides for that manufacturer.
> It could also help make the drug easier to get by
> allowing the government to stockpile it or for a
> patient to get it through a prescription -- even
> before the contamination occurred, FDA officials
> said.
>
> The FDA said the decision was part of the agency's
> efforts to encourage the development of treatments
> in case of an attack.
>
> If absorbed by the body certain radioactive
> particles can cause cancer, bone tumors and other
> severe problems, even years after exposure.
>
> Radiation contamination could occur from industrial
> accidents or terror attacks through so-called "dirty
> bombs." People could absorb radioactive particles by
> ingestion, breathing or through open wounds, the
> agency said.
>
> Plutonium is a by-product of reactors at nuclear
> power plants. Americium, a man-made radioactive
> metal, is often used commercially for a number of
> devices, including medical diagnostics. Curium,
> another synthetic, also results from nuclear
> reactors.
>
>
>
>
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=====
+++++++++++++++++++
"Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects."
Will Rogers
-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail: crispy_bird@yahoo.com
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