FDA approves two drugs to treat radiation exposure

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 12 Aug 2004 - 13:00 PDT

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The US FDA has approved two drugs to treat radiation exposure. The injectable drugs could be available on prescription for people who wanted protection before a terrorist attack. The drugs treat americium or curium contamination.

Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford, said "The approval of these two drugs is another example of FDA's readiness and commitment to protecting Americans against all terrorist threats."

The two drugs are manufactured by Germany's Hameln Pharmaceuticals GmBH. The two drugs have been around for decades for use in emergencies - penetrate calcium trisodium injection (Ca-DTPA) and penetrate zinc trisodium injection (Zn-DTPA).

In 2003 the FDA announced that the drugs were safe for decontaminating people with some types of radiation poisoning - it asked companies to come up with products for consideration.

The aim is to build up a stockpile which could then be issued on prescription.

These drugs would be useful to have in stock in case of industrial accidents or dirty bomb terrorist attacks, says the FDA.