Other

Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Murray J Sanders

James A Vick

A method is provided for treatment of animals exposed to or subject to exposure to organophosphate animal poisonous nerve agents. The animals are injected with an effective amount of modified neurotoxin, preferably intramuscularly or intravenously, either prior to or shortly after exposure to the nerve agents. Particularly when the injection is administered prior to exposure, and where the dosage is of a higher amount, certain compositions achieve 100% survivors of Rhesus monkeys, even in the face of a challenge of 5 LD.sub.50 of the nerve agent.

Treatment of animals exposed to or subject to exposure to

A method for proving the potency and atoxicity of modified neurotoxin is provided. A thin sheet of viable cells is provided on a growth substrate. Viability of the sheet of cells is defined as exhibiting an uninhibited growth potential of at least 10.sup.6 Plaque Forming Units of Semliki Forest virus. The sheet of cells is treated with the test modified neurotoxin and then inoculated with the Semliki Forest virus. The reduction in the number of plaques of Semliki Forest virus in the culture indicates the potency of the modified neurotoxin, since the modified neurotoxin interferes with plaque formation by the Semliki Forest virus in proportion to its potency. Atoxicity of the modified neurotoxin is demonstrated by lack of cell destruction.

Potency and atoxicity test for modified neurotoxin

The present invention relates to a composition, a process of production thereof, and a method for treatment of neurological diseases, and especially to the treatment of such diseases as amyotropic lateral sclerosis, by administering detoxified but neurotropically active modified snake venom neurotoxin composition derived from the venom of the Naja genus, where the composition exhibits at least a 30% inhibition of viral plaques in the Semliki Forest virus test and a bioassay shows the composition to be atoxic.

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Delray Beach, FL, United States of America

Murray J Sanders