Re: Article: U.S. FDA OKs drugs to counter radiation attack

[John Jacobus <crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM>]

They are still looking for Jimmy Hoffa in the ADAMS

database.



--- Jim Hardeman <Jim_Hardeman@dnr.state.ga.us> wrote:



> 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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=====

+++++++++++++++++++

"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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