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Company tests anthrax antidote
Scientists believe they may have found a more effective way to protect people from anthrax.
Avanir Pharmaceuticals (AVN) http://www.avanir.com "says it has successfully developed a human antibody that neutralises the potentially deadly toxin.
They hope the discovery will lead to a new vaccine and drugs to fight anthrax.
It comes just days after scientists revealed they had cracked the gene code for the strain of anthrax used in the letter attacks in the US in late 2001 .
That discovery is expected to boost efforts to develop more effective drugs to fight the toxin.
Drug treatment
A vaccine and drugs to treat anthrax already exist. However, the vaccine must be administered through a series of injections over a number of months before it becomes fully protective.
In the US and the UK, it has generally only been offered to those in at risk groups such as military personnel.
The drugs are generally only effective if they are taken swiftly after infection.
Scientists at Avanir Pharmaceuticals in San Diego believe their antibody could overcome this problem.
Laboratory tests have shown that it neutralizes the bacterium and stops it from infecting cells from where it causes most damage.
"The potency this antibody exhibits is extremely high," said one its researchers Phillip Morrow.
He said the company is now planning to test the antibody on guinea pigs. If these tests prove successful, they will then use the antibody to develop drugs to fight anthrax.
"We are very encouraged by this data and plan to develop this antibody for use as a prophylactic and therapeutic drug to prevent and treat anthrax infections," Mr Morrow said.
Dr Gerald Yakatan, the company's chief executive, said: "Currently there is a gap in treatment for individuals that could be or are exposed to anthrax spores," he said.
"Because of the long immunisation timeframe of the vaccine currently available, there are groups of individuals for whom vaccination is not possible or effective and for whom alternative therapies need to be developed.
"Our research is aimed at developing human antibodies that can neutralise the anthrax toxin after exposure has occurred."
Many companies around the world are working on potential anthrax antidotes.
Anthrax is considered to be the number one weapon of choice for bioterrorists.
Recent studies have suggested that a kilogram of anthrax spores dropped on a city of 10 million people would result in more than 100,000 deaths - even if every infected person was given antibiotics "

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