New pill likely to protect against radiation exposure

Researchers have discovered and analysed a class of new compounds, which could potentially prevent radiation-related injuries to the kidneys, lungs, skin and intestinal tract.

These agents are novel synthetic "antioxidants" that protect tissues against the kind of damage caused by agents such as "free radicals".

Free radicals, and similar toxic by-products formed in the body, are implicated in many different types of tissue injury, including those caused by radiation exposure.

Often, this kind of injury occurs months to years after radiation exposure. Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researchers are developing agents that prevent injury even when given after the radiation exposure.

Dubbed 'EUK-400 series', these new class of compounds are designed to be administered as a pill.

Experiments have shown that these agents are orally active. They also show that the new agents have several desirable "antioxidant" activities, and protect cells.

BUSM researchers had previously discovered novel synthetic antioxidants that effectively mitigate radiation injuries, but had to be given by injection.

"We have developed some of these agents and have studied them for over 15 years beginning with our work at the local biotechnology company Eukarion," said study author Susan Doctrow, professor of medicine at BUSM.

"These injectible antioxidants are very effective, but there has also been a desire to have agents that can be given orally. A pill would be more feasible than an injection to treat large numbers of people in an emergency scenario," she added.

These findings appeared in the June issue of the Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry.

Last updated on Jul 13^th, 2009 at 13:51 pm IST--IANS