The US Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded a $4.4 million contract to Texas-based Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), an independent applied research and development organization, for development of an intranasal cyanide antidote. The only treatments for cyanide poisoning currently approved by the FDA require intravenous administration of amyl nitrite.
“The goal of this effort is to successfully develop a supply and nasal formulation of amyl nitrite,” commented Joe McDonough, Director of SwRI’s Microencapsulation and Nanomaterials Department. The formulation, he explains, “could easily be used to treat numerous victims by simple nasal instillation, and is very well suited even for self administration.” The delivery system will be designed for use in the field and will deliver metered doses.
SwRI says that it “will demonstrate the safety and efficacy against cyanide exposure in two animal models to clarify a development strategy for amyl nitrite with FDA.” The contract can be extended through 2016, with additional payments up to $21 million.
Read the SwRI press release.
