Development of radiation countermeasure agents for acute radiation syndromes

Abstract

The risk of internal and external exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) has increased alongside the development and implementation of nuclear technology. Therefore, serious security issues have emerged globally, and there has been an increase in the number of studies focusing on radiological prevention and medical countermeasures. Radioprotective drugs are particularly important components of emergency medical preparedness strategies for the clinical management of IR‐induced injuries. However, a few drugs have been approved to date to treat such injuries, and the related mechanisms are not entirely understood. Thus, the aim of the present review was to provide a brief overview of the World Health Organization's updated list of essential medicines for 2023 for the proper management of national stockpiles and the treatment of radiological emergencies. This review also discusses the types of radiation‐induced health injuries and the related mechanisms, as well as the development of various radioprotective agents, including Chinese herbal medicines, for which significant survival benefits have been demonstrated in animal models of acute radiation syndrome.

An Overview of Appropriate Medical Practice and Preparedness in Radiation Emergency Response

“…During the manifest illness stage, the presence of each type of ARS is ultimately dependent on the absorbed radiation dose (Table 1). Adapted from reference [6].…”

“…The consequences of the quality of treatment depend on the severity of ARS and the availability of medical resources and expertise. The use of bioindicators of effect, such as changes in blood cell counts, gene expression analysis, or proteomic and hematology biomarkers, might enable the integration of exposure and biological characteristics and provide improved clinical outcomes in exposed individuals [ 6 , 7 ]. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) can be a potential consequence of ARS, which is a critical condition that can occur during a nuclear emergency, where two or more organ systems fail to support the body's needs.…”