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Radiological Weapons: FDA Calls for New Treatments The U.S. Food and Drug Administration encouraged companies Friday to submit marketing applications for drugs using the mineral compound ferric hexacyanoferrate (II), also known as Prussian blue, to treat people who have been exposed to radioactive elements (see GSN, Dec. 4, 2002). The FDA has determined that 500-milligram capsules of Prussian blue would be effective in treating patients contaminated with radioactive thallium, nonradioactive thallium or radioactive cesium — elements terrorists could use in a radiological weapon, according to an agency press release. Prussian blue works by binding with radioactive particles while in the gut, causing them to be expelled. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for internal thallium or radioactive cesium contamination. “FDA is working to protect U.S. citizens who may be exposed to radioactive materials released from terrorist attacks using a dirty bomb,” said FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan. “FDA’s guidance to industry and approved labeling for Prussian blue products gives manufacturers critical information necessary for producing an FDA-approved product to counter terrorism,” he added (U.S. Food and Drug Administration release, Jan. 31).
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