Humanetics Corp. has entered a multi-million dollar research agreement with the U.S. government to further develop its radiation-countermeasure drug.
The $5.1 million deal with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will go towards a new formulation of Humanetics' Bio 300 drug, which is designed to combat acute radiation sickness that soldiers and civilians can suffer following a nuclear attack.
The Bloomington-based pharmaceutical is using the funds to create a formulation delivered through an auto injector, similar to how Narcan is administered to reverse an opioid overdose.
Humanetics is currently undergoing phase 2 trials for its oral formulation of BIO 300. It envisions the DOD would use both the oral and auto injectable forms of BIO 300 to account for different use cases.
“With the increasing potential for use of radiological or nuclear weaponry in the current global environment, especially with events in Ukraine, it’s a strategic imperative to protect our armed forces and first responders from radiation exposure and enable them to operate in areas of concern,” Ronald Zenk Humanetics president and CEO, said in a statement.
In addition to helping against radiation, Humanetics is running clinical trials to test its potential to reduce toxic effects of radiation in cancer patients and to also minimize lung damage in patients experiencing long-term effects of Covid-19.
BIO 300's ability to protect against radiation was first discovered by DOD researchers at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Bethesda, Md.
To date, Humanetics has received $23.3 million in DOD funding since 2006, according to its website.
