Radiation Treatment Developments On The Rise

Since the earthquake in Japan, radiation exposure has come to the forefront of medical developments. Workers dealing with the nuclear reactors are potentially being exposed to hazardous levels, requiring treatments for radiation poisoning. According to the New York Times, “…the drugs under development would allow people to survive doses 20 to 40 percent higher than what is now considered lethal.” Companies involved in the development of such treatments have seen high trading volumes since the earthquake in Japan. Aeolus Pharmaceuticals AOLS saw trading volumes 1,000 times normal on the day following the crisis. Aeolus has a $118 million federal contract to develop a drug used to protect the lungs from radiation damage. In emergency cases, drugs not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can be issued an “emergency use authorization.” Amgen AMGN currently has gained this approval for their drug Neupogen, a drug used to help the body create white blood cells to fight infection. The Department of Health and Human Services is planning a possible mass purchase of Neupogen or a similar generic to stockpile for emergency radiation poisoning situations. Neupogen is only one of many drugs being developed for radiation treatment, but most drugs are two to five years from approval. Radiation treatments are difficult to test because it is unethical to expose humans to radiation for a clinical trial. These drugs have to, instead, be tested in two different animal species and have to be safe to humans in corresponding doses. Cellerant Therapetics has been granted government funding of $153 million over five years to develop an immune system boosting drug using stem cells to help combat radiation exposure. The most common form of exposure for the public would be from isotopes. The federal stockpile currently has approved drugs stockpiled for this, such as potassium iodide and Prussian blue. The drugs in development would most likely not be effective in reducing long-term cancer risk from exposure to radiation.