USA: BIO-TECH FIRMS WORK ON ANTIDOTES INTENDED TO COUNTER POSSIBLE ATTACK FROM BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.

Record ID: 648514

  • Title: USA: BIO-TECH FIRMS WORK ON ANTIDOTES INTENDED TO COUNTER POSSIBLE ATTACK FROM BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
  • Date: 5th October 2001
  • Summary: PINEBROOK, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 4, 2001)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/PAN: ELUSYS THERAPEUTICS INC. 0.11 2. CU/MV: SCIENTISTS WORKING WITH ANTHRAX TOXIN IN LAB (2 SHOTS) 0.26 3. MV: CEO AND VICE PRESIDENT WALKING DOWN HALL OF COMPANY 0.36 4. MCU: (SOUNDBITE)(English) LINDA NARDONE-VICE PRESIDENT ELUSYS SAYING "We realise if we can clear the blood of various pathogens, we can certainly clear that of biological warfare pathogens, so we really are proud and challenged to already be working in this area and maybe be able to bring something through that would be able to help." 0.56 5. CU: COMPUTER GENERATED IMAGE OF ANTIDOTE FIGHTING VIRUS (2 SHOTS) 1.17 6. CU/GV: SCIENTIST WORKING IN LAB (2 SHOTS) 1.39 7. CU: (SOUNDBITE)(English) LESLIE CASEY-DIRECTOR OF LAB OPERATIONS SAYING "If you knew a population was at risk, you would give them an antidote ahead of time prophylatically. That's when it would have the best chance to work. There is a little bit of date on human exposure to anthrax, and within 24 hours the infection starts, the symptoms begin. Shortly after that, once symptoms begin, the toxins have taken hold and the antidote has less chance of being effective. So, if a population is at risk, you give the drug prophylatically." 2.12 8. MV/CU: SCIENTISTS WORKING IN LAB (2 SHOTS) 2.21 9. MCU: (SOUNDBITE)(English) LESLIE CASEY-DIRECTOR OF LAB OPERATIONS SAYING "I think if it were available today, the government would be stockpiling it and we are potentially sending troops overseas for ground war, I think they would be using it prophylatically." 2.38 NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 4, 2001)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 10. GV: PEOPLE WALKING IN TIMES SQUARE 2.42 11. MCU: (SOUNDBITE)(English) NEW YORKER SAYING "I am very much afraid of the biological warfare that may turn out to be as a result of all this terrorist attack. I am very concerned about it and I hope the government does something about it." 2.54 12. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORKER SAYING "Our government is going to protect us, you know, I think they are on the top of it for the most parts, as far as the fear, no, as far as getting masks, no. You know, nothing like that." 3.07 13. CU: {SOUNDBITE)(English) NEW YORKER SAYING "You are hearing conflicting stories, you really don't know what to believe, but obviously what happened September 11, you really have to be aware. I have been considering to buy a gas mask, but I have not done it yet, but I probably will." 3.19 14. GV: TIMES SQUARE 3.26 PINEBROOK, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 4, 2001)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 15. CU/ZOOM OUT: TECHNICIANS WORKING IN PINE BROOK LAB. 3.39 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th October 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PINEBROOK, NEW JERSEY; AND NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA3TKDWOGWSSF0DNN1T7LRL3LOL
  • Story Text: With the concerns growing about the threat of terrorism
    using biological weapons, a handful of tiny biotech companies
    are quietly working on vaccines and antidotes intended to
    counter not only anthrax, but also small pox and other
    potential biological weapons.



    For the past three years, a tiny band of scientists in
    Pine Brook, New Jersey have been looking for the antidote to
    anthrax, the most feared and likely form of bioterrorism
    expected by military experts to be deployed in a possible
    second wave attack.

    Right now doctors treat anthrax infections with the drug
    Cipro, a strong antibiotic which has to be taken soon after
    infection occurs. But the race is now on to find a more
    effective treatment, with forty billion federal dollars just
    approved for bio-terror research.

    Working for the biotech firm, EluSys Therapeutics, is
    Linda Nardone, Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory
    affairs. She is expecting to get online to get up to 50
    million dollars from the U.S. Federal Government . It's just
    been recruited into a research agreement with the US Army and
    hopes to have an effective anthrax antidote ready for review
    in just two years time.

    "We realise if we can clear the blood of various pathogens,
    we can certainly clear that of biological warfare pathogens,
    so we really are proud and challenged to already be working in
    this area and maybe be able to bring something through that
    would be able to help, " said Nardone.

    Anthrax is an acute infectious disease commonly occurring
    in livestock, it can infect humans exposed to diseased
    animals. If untreated the toxin can restrict the ability of
    the lungs to get oxygen into the blood.

    The antidote injection would contain antibodies which
    would bind the anthrax toxin and red blood cells together. The
    red blood cells would shuttle the toxin to the liver where it
    can be flushed out of the body.

    Director of Lab Operations, Dr. Leslie Casey, discussed
    the use of the antidote. "If you knew a population was at
    risk, you would give them an antidote ahead of time
    prophylatically. That's when it would have the best chance to
    work. There is a little bit of date on human exposure to
    anthrax, and within 24 hours the infection starts, the
    symptoms begin. Shortly after that, once symptom begin, the
    toxins have taken hold and the antidote has less chance of
    being effective. So, if a population is at risk, you give the
    drug prophylatically."
    Elusys scientists are developing an antidote to be taken
    by soldiers before they enter a combat situation said Casey.

    "I think if it were available today, the government would be
    stockpiling it and we are potentially sending troops overseas
    for ground war, I think they would be using it
    prophylatically."
    After the September 11 terrorist attack in New York
    City, people that live in the Metropolitan area are concerned,
    but confident the government will protect Americans from a
    lethal situation. "I am very much afraid of the biological
    warfare that may turn out to be as a result of all this
    terrorist attack", said one New Yorker who has lived in the
    city for 40 years.

    "Our government is going to protect us, you know, I think
    they are on the top of it for the most part", said one
    fearless woman.

    EluSys says this technology could also be used to treat
    other potential viral threats like smallpox, ebola and
    Marburg.


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