[ RadSafe ] From another list

[LNMolino at aol.com]

Date:  March 18, 2005
For Release: Immediately
Contact: HHS  Press Office
(202) 690-6343

Headline:  HHS AWARDS BIOSHIELD  CONTRACT FOR LIQUID POTASSIUM IODIDE

The Department of Health and Human  Services today awarded a $5.7 million
contract to Fleming & Company,  Pharmaceuticals of Fenton, Mo. for the
manufacture and delivery of 1.7  million pediatric doses of liquid potassium
iodide (KI).  This supply of  liquid KI, which is being purchased under the
BioShield program, would be  used in the event of a release of radioactive
iodine, a commonly produced  material in commercial nuclear power facilities.


The liquid KI  formulation is the first to be developed specifically for
children. Its black  raspberry taste is designed to make it more palatable to
children. Current  adult dose tablets are bitter and must be broken into
pieces to get a child's  dose. The new formulation is delivered using a
graduated  eyedropper.

"The acquisition of this new and easy-to-administer pediatric  KI formulation
is an important step forward for our nation's radiological  preparedness
program," Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency  Preparedness
Stewart Simonson, said.

Because the thyroid gland rapidly  absorbs any iodine in the body, people
need to take KI soon after an incident  that involves the release of
radioactive iodine, such as could occur in the  vicinity of a nuclear
commercial power facility. The KI saturates the thyroid  gland with iodine,
thus preventing the thyroid from absorbing additional,  radioactive iodine.
However, KI does not prevent the effects of any other  radioactive elements.

Approval of the liquid KI as a pediatric  formulation was given last year by
the Interagency Weapons of Mass  Destruction Medical Countermeasures
Subcommittee. Children are the most  susceptible to the dangerous effects of
radioactive iodine.

Once it is  delivered to HHS, the pediatric KI will be made available to
states that  submit and receive approval from HHS for plans they develop to
distribute the  new product in communities around commercial nuclear power
plants.

The  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved KI in tablet form as  a
nonprescription drug for use as a "blocking agent" to prevent the  human
thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. On Jan. 12, 2005, the  FDA
granted approval to Fleming for their product ThyroShieldTM  (Potassium
Iodide Oral Solution, USP) 65 mg/ml for  children.

###

******************************************************************************
*

Terrorism  Discussion Group Sponsored By:

The George Washington University

-  Response to Emergencies and Disasters Institute

- Emergency Services  Management Graduate Program

01-1-703-726-3700 (voice) 01-1-703-726-3737  (fax)

http://readi.gwu.edu

http://homelandsecurity.gwu.edu/dhs/home.html

***  FAIR USE NOTICE. This message may contain copyrighted material the use 
of which  has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This 
Internet  discussion list is making it available without profit to interested 
individuals  who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included 
information in  their efforts to advance the understanding of literary, educational, 
political,  and economic issues, for non-profit research and educational 
purposes only. I  believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted 
material as  provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish 
to use this  copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 
'fair use,' you  must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

For more information go  to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

-  SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE -

EMAIL PAUL M. MANISCALCO AT PAULM at GWU.EDU WITH  THE DESIRED ACTION ~ EITHER - 
SUBSCRIBE - OR - UNSUBSCRIBE - TERRORISM LIST  TYPED IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF 
YOUR EMAIL  REQUEST
******************************************************************************
*


Louis N.  Molino, Sr., CET
FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI
LNMolino at aol.com
979-690-3607  (Home Office)
979-690-7550 (IFW Office)
979-412-0890 (Cell  Phone)
979-690-7562 (IFW Fax)

"A Texan with a Jersey  Attitude"

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the  author and the 
author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or  
organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with unless  I 
specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only  for its 
stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials  
retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by the  
original author.