NIH begins testing of radiation treatment

MISSION VIEJO, Calif., June 4 (UPI) -- Aeolus Pharmaceuticals Inc. says the U.S. National Institutes of Health has begun testing its radiation countermeasure treatment.

California-based Aeolus announced its AEOL 10150 treatment is now being tested by the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Radiation/Nuclear Medical Countermeasures development program.

NIAID testing of the AEOL 10150, a countermeasure for radiation exposure to the gastrointestinal tract, will measure the treatment's efficacy. There are currently no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications to treat gastrointestinal tract-acute radiation syndrome.

Officials say the AEOL 10150 is part of an effort by Aeolus to address the need for a treatment to counter radiation sickness from a potential nuclear terrorist attack.

"We believe that AEOL 10150's selection says a great deal about the compounds potential to provide multi-organ protection in acute radiation syndrome," John McManus, Aeolus president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"We look forward to the completion of the study and hope to see the same positive effects in the gastrointestinal tract that we have seen the drug demonstrate in the protection of lung cells from radiation."