Novel dirty bomb antidote is in first trial

A novel ‘dirty bomb’ antidote is undergoing first human trial in the USA. The drug HOPO 14-1 is manufactured to eliminate harmful radioactive contaminants from the body.

About 42 volunteers will be placed on different doses of the novel drug to evaluate its side effects. The volunteers will be intensively monitored for the drug safety and if the test proves sufficient and effective it could safeguard against damages caused by several radioactive material to DNA, tissues and organs.

The result of this study is expected in 2024

Explosions laced with radioactive materials which could contaminate the blast zone is regarded as dirty bomb. Dirty bombs according to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission are not nuclear bombs, but weapons of mass disruption.

The HOPO 14-1 test if successful will add to the list of known anti-radioactive drugs which have either been used or stored for years/decades now. Iodine tablet is one of such drug known to protect people in cases of radioactive iodine accidents/contaminations. Another is Prussian blue which removes radioactive caesium and thallium from the body.

The core target of HOPO 14-1 will be the removal of plutonium, americium, curium, uranium and neptunium from the body.