16 May 2023 • A first-in-human clinical trial of an experimental oral drug for removing radioactive contaminants from inside the body has begun. The Food and Drug Administration has approved two products for removing internal radioactive contamination. These drugs, both based on diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA), are administered intravenously and can remove three radioactive elements: plutonium, americium, and curium.

In contrast, HOPO 14-1 has been formulated as an oral capsule, which would be easier than an intravenous drug to stockpile and to deploy and administer during an emergency.

• The clinical trial is taking place at a site in Plymouth, Michigan & will enroll 42 healthy participants ages 18 to 65 years in seven groups of six.
• Each participant in the first group will receive a 100-milligram (mg) dose of HOPO 14-1. The subsequent groups will receive increasingly higher doses of the study drug up to 7500 mg in the final group, if lower doses are deemed safe.
• Participants will undergo intensive safety monitoring and will be followed for 14 days to measure the absorption, distribution and elimination of the study drug.
• Results are expected in 2024.

Source: NIH | Read full story