Drug to Prevent or Treat Botulism

Following an eight-year effort, researchers have developed a drug that can be mass-produced to prevent or treat botulism. Their research was reported in the August 5, 2002, online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Botulism is a paralyzing disease caused by a nerve toxin and is considered one of the greatest bioterrorism threats. Botulism toxin is the most poisonous substance known, and treatment requires many weeks of intensive care. A vaccine has been developed but widespread use is not being currently considered because the likelihood of exposure is uncertain.

The researchers, from the University of California, San Francisco (USA), and US Army Medical Research units, expanded the technique now used to produce monoclonal antibodies against pathogens or other molecular targets. They isolated and identified three antibodies against the toxin and combined them. When administered together, they bind the toxin much more tightly and block more of the toxin surface than a single antibody could.

"The procedure could be scaled up to mass-produce and stockpile the drug to be used to prevent or treat botulism,” said senior author James D. Marks, M.D., Ph.D, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at UCSF. "The long half life of human antibodies means that a single dose could protect people at risk for six months.”

The researchers say the same approach could be used to produce drugs against other deadly agents where antibodies have shown neutralizing activity, such as anthrax, smallpox, plague, or hemorrhagic fever viruses.




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