I do have a very speculative position in URRE, and I know that Japan obtains a large amount (over 50%?) of its energy from nuclear power, but I don't see a connection as yet.
For obvious reasons, the release of radioactive vapor in Japan would be a particularly sensitive issue.
Dew -- one investment angle would be Cleveland BioLabs. One of the co's compounds,C502, is being advanced for just such a contingency. It has received many millions in HHS and DOD grants and is quite confident of receiving a very large award ($50mm+)from HHS's BARDA within the next few weeks though I hesitate here because of BARDA's backlog. This development in Japan should expedite things. Here's a sheet from the co's website. John
http://www.cbiolabs.com/applications_bio.php Radiation Antidote for Defense Despite the significant threat of high dose radiation exposure that exists in our world today, there are currently no highly effective and non-toxic anti-radiation treatments available. CBLI is building upon its understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which radiation induces cell death to develop pharmaceuticals that address this need. CBLI’s Protectan compounds rescue mammals from lethal doses of radiation by suppressing apoptotic cell death in critical hematopoietic (HP) and/or gastrointestinal (GI) tract cells. The effectiveness of Protectans whether injected before or after radiation exposure indicates that these compounds have great potential as practical, as well as effective and non-toxic, biodefense measures.
Background and Rationale With rogue nations developing nuclear capabilities and almost 30,000 nuclear warheads deployed around the world, the possibility of nuclear warfare is an unfortunate reality. In addition, the risk of a terrorist attack involving either a nuclear weapon, a “dirty bomb” (a combination of conventional explosives and nuclear material), or an attack on a nuclear power plant or waste site is a top concern for many countries. The possibility of an accident at a nuclear power plant (104 in the U.S. and 439 worldwide) presents another potentially daunting source of radiation. A Nuclear Regulatory Commission study stated that breaching a cask of spent fuel could release lethal radiation over an area many times larger than that affected by a 10 kiloton nuclear weapon.
The need for countermeasures against these threats is dire since there are currently no pharmaceuticals approved for use in protecting humans from acute radiation injury. The only agent that has been widely stockpiled to date for use in the event of an act of nuclear terrorism or a nuclear accident is potassium iodide (KI). However, KI is only effective against the long-term risk of cancer developing ten to fifteen years post-exposure. It does not protect the body from the acute effects of high dose radiation that can lead to death within days or weeks.
The short term lethality of high dose ionizing radiation is due to development of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) caused by massive apoptosis in radiosensitive organs, including the hematopoietic (HP) system and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Other cell types, such as spermatocytes and hair follicles, are also affected. HP and GI acute radiation syndromes are induced by different levels of radiation and have highly predictable clinical courses. In humans, whole-body or significant partial body exposure to less than 3.5 Gy results in only moderate bone marrow (HP) damage and survival is probable. However, survivors are likely to suffer from severe immunosuppression and/or an increased risk of cancer. Exposure to 3.5-7.5 Gy induces severe bone marrow damage and death is probable within 2-6 weeks. Significant GI damage occurs in addition to HP damage at doses over 5 Gy, and at doses over 7.5 Gy, death typically occurs within 1-2 weeks. At doses of 10 Gy and higher, cerebrovascular dysfunction becomes a leading factor in death within days. It is estimated that nearly all survivors of the 1945 blast at Hiroshima received doses of less than 3 Gy. Chernobyl firefighters were likely exposed to 6-7 Gy.
CBLI’s unique approach of pharmacological modulation of apoptosis is ideally suited to address the need for effective radiation countermeasures. The company is currently developing derivatives of microbial factors that are natural regulators of apoptosis as Protectans, molecules that prevent death of normal cells in the face of stresses such as radiation. As described below, the lead Protectan compounds CBLB502 and CBLB600 series have significant activity as both radioprotectants (injected prior to radiation exposure) and mitigators of radiation damage (injected after radiation exposure). The underlying principle of radioprotection by Protectans and their structures and uses represent the intellectual property of CBLI developed in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic.
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