Antidote Against Bioterrorism Viruses

An antidote being developed against viruses that could be used for bioterrorism attacks is based on a class of blood pressure drugs that reduce excessive inflammation by a patient's own immune system.

The drugs used in the antidote are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). The approach has achieved a 100% response rate so far among 12 patients with an intact immune system who became infected with West Nile virus encephalitis. The treatment still works, although more slowly, even if begun months after the epidsode of acute ancephalitis, when the patient is already paralyzed. Although it does not work at all for patients who are immunosuppressed, such as organ transplant or leukemia patients, it does work for the elderly.

The drugs are safe enough to allow for their preventive use and are easily available throughout the world. Most general doctors already use them to treat high blood pressure. Patients with normal or low blood pressure need not worry: at low doses, ARBs have no effect on blood pressure. The new antidote is being developed by GenoMed, Inc. (St. Louis, MO, USA). The company has applied for patents based on its finding that the ACE gene is associated with a large number of common diseases, including viral and autoimmune diseases.

The viruses the antidote might treat include severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), bird flu, Hantavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), monkeypox, Ebola virus, West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis, smallpox, dengue fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and polio.

"Our company appears to have the ammunition to fight back safely and effectively against most viruses, whether the epidemic is natural or, God forbid, man-made. At this point, further testing and greater public awareness are key,” said Dr. David Moskowitz, chief medical and executive officer for GenoMed. "We invite more collaborators to come forward.”




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