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WASHINGTON, March 12, 2013 â€� The latest episode in the American Chemical Öйú365betÖÐÎĹÙÍø’s (ACSâ€�) award-winning podcast series describes a new advance toward closing a major gap in defenses against terrorist attacks and other mass casualty events. Scientists are reporting discovery of a promising substance that could be the basis for development of a better antidote for cyanide poisoning. The potential antidote could be self-administered, much like the medication delivered by allergy injection pens.

Based on a report by Steven E. Patterson, Ph.D., and colleagues in ACS� Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, the new podcast is available without charge at and from .

In the new episode, Patterson explains that the only existing antidotes for cyanide � recognized as a high-risk substance for potential use by terrorists � must be administered by intravenous infusion, or an “IV.� That procedure requires highly trained paramedical personnel and takes time. Cyanide, however, is a fast-acting poison. In a situation involving mass casualties, only a limited number of victims could be saved with IV medication. Patterson's team thus sought an antidote that could be administered by intra-muscular (IM) injection, a simpler procedure that could be administered rapidly to a large number of victims or even be self-administered.

Their report describes discovery of a substance, sulfanegen TEA, “which should be amenable for development as an IM injectable antidote suitable for treatment of cyanide victims in a mass casualty setting. Further development, including efficacy in lethal cyanide animal models, will be reported at a later date.�

Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions is a series of podcasts describing some of the 21^st century’s most daunting problems, and how cutting-edge research in chemistry matters in the quest for solutions. Global Challenges is the centerpiece in an between ACS and the Royal Öйú365betÖÐÎĹÙÍø of Chemistry. Global Challenges is a sweeping panorama of global challenges that includes dilemmas such as providing a hungry and thirsty world with ample supplies of safe food and clean water, developing alternatives to petroleum to fuel society, preserving the environment and ensuring a sustainable future for our children and improving human health.

For more entertaining, informative science videos and podcasts from the ACS Office of Public Affairs, view , , and .

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Öйú365betÖÐÎĹÙÍø contact newsroom@acs.org.

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