Humanetics licenses drugs to combat radiation

Aug 31, 2010

Pharmaceutical company Humanetics has acquired exclusive worldwide licenses from Henry Ford Health System in Detroit to commercially develop therapeutic agents that may provide short- and long-term postexposure protection from both lethal and nonlethal levels of ionizing radiation.

The agreement gives Humanetics of Eden Prairie, MN, the ability to develop and market two drugs, one designed for use within 24 hours of exposure and the other to be given after 24 hours of exposure. The primary role of the new treatments will be to repair damage to healthy tissues caused by radiation, as well as to prevent the onset of acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE).

Researchers at Henry Ford's department of radiation oncology developed the new treatments to reduce radiation injury to normal tissue. The treatments are intended to help patients undergoing radiation therapy, in addition to those receiving CT scans. They also are being developed for individuals who may have been exposed to ionizing radiation during a terrorist act or other nuclear or radiologic event.

Efficacy studies are scheduled to begin immediately for both treatments, according to Jon Zenk, MD, chief medical officer at Humanetics.

In addition to the new licenses, Humanetics has an exclusive worldwide license to develop BIO 300, a medical radiation countermeasure drug designed to treat acute radiation syndrome, with the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Bethesda, MD.