NCJ Number
217755
Journal
Homeland Defense Journal Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2007 Pages: 62-63
Date Published
January 2007
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes SRI International's efforts to develop medical countermeasures to prevent, diagnose, and treat the conditions caused by potential and existing chemical agents of terrorists.
Abstract
SRI, an independent, nonprofit research and development organization, will focus on all aspects of preclinical development that can lead to potential therapeutic candidates, including synthetic and natural products and small molecule drugs. SRI will also develop analytical methods, perform pharmacology studies, conduct safety evaluations, and formulate and manufacture products for further study. It will then prepare therapeutic candidates to enter clinical assessment under an Investigational New Drug submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The chemical threats of most concern to SRI are neurotoxin agents such as organophosphorus nerve gases, sulfur mustard, chlorine gas, and metabolic poisons like cyanide. SRI will do drug-development studies for these compounds and provide support and study background that the various investigative teams can use. At least two of the research areas are showing promise; and within a year, at least one of these therapies should be ready to submit to the FDA.