Control of radiation injury

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of drug development against acute radiation injury caused by exposure to high-energy electromagnetic waves (X-rays, gamma rays) or particles (alpha particles, beta particles, neutrons). To date, there is no effective drug to ameliorate radiation injury after accidental exposure to ionizing irradiation. The invention provides a method of treating radiation injury of a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a peptide, or functional analogue or derivative thereof, of smaller than 30 amino acids. Furthermore, the invention provides use of a peptide, or functional analogue or derivative thereof, of smaller than 30 amino acids for the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a subject suffering from or believed to be suffering from radiation injury. In particular, the invention provides anti-radiation peptides having a dose reduction factor (DRF) against acute gamma irradiation of at least 1.10, said DRF determinable by testing which dose of radiation results in 50% mortality at 30 days (LD50 / 30) after whole body radiation (WBI) in a test group of mice treated with said peptide at 72 hours after WBI and, testing which dose of radiation results in 50% mortality at 30 days (LD50 / 30) after whole body radiation (WBI) in a control group of mice treated only with the vehicle of said peptide at 72 hours after WBI and wherein the DRF is calculated by dividing the LD50 / 30 of the peptide-treated animals by the LD50 / 30 of the vehicle-treated animals.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 715,314, filed Mar. 7, 2007, pending, which application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 811,878, filed Jun. 7, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 779,896, filed Mar. 7, 2006, and claims priority to European Patent Application Serial No. EP 06076181.4, filed Jun. 7, 2006, the contents of the entirety of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The invention relates to the field of drug development against acute radiation injury caused by exposure to high-energy electromagnetic waves (X-rays, gamma rays) or particles (alpha particles, beta particles, neutrons). To date, there is no effective drug to ameliorate radiation injury after accidental exposure to ionizing irradiation.BACKGROUND[0003]Radiation injury is damage to tissues caused by expo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is about developing drugs to prevent or treat radiation injury caused by high-energy electromagnetic waves or other ionizing particles. The inventors have discovered that small, non-toxic peptides can be effective in protecting against and treating radiation injury. These peptides can be administered after exposure to radiation to reduce the harmful effects. The invention provides a method for preventing or treating radiation injury by administering these peptides to a person in need. The peptides can be administered as a pharmaceutical composition or as a food supplement to prevent or minimize radiation injury."

Problems solved by technology

To date, there is no effective drug to ameliorate radiation injury after accidental exposure to ionizing irradiation, or after damage to healthy tissues during therapeutic radiation or radio-mimetic agents; nor is there an effective prophylactic drug to prevent or minimize such injuries when administered before the event (for example, to first responders).

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