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We have previously demonstrated that the small molecule octadecenyl thiophosphate (OTP), a synthetic mimic of the growth factor-like mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), showed radioprotective activity in a mouse model of total-body irradiation (TBI) when given orally or intraperitoneally 30 min before exposure to 9 Gy γ radiation. In the current study, we evaluated the effects of OTP, delivered subcutaneously, for radioprotection or radiomitigation from −24 h before to up to +72 h postirradiation using a mouse TBI model with therapeutic doses at around 1 mg/kg. OTP was injected at 10 mg/kg without observable toxic side effects in mice, providing a comfortable safety margin. Treatment of C57BL/6 mice with a single dose of OTP over the time period from −12 h before to +26 h after a lethal dose of TBI reduced mortality by 50%. When administered at +48 h to +72 h postirradiation (LD50/30 to LD100/30), OTP reduced mortality by ≥34%. OTP administered at +24 h postirradiation significantly elevated peripheral white blood cell and platelet counts, increased crypt survival in the jejunum, enhanced intestinal glucose absorption and reduced endotoxin seepage into the blood. In the 6.4–8.6 Gy TBI range using LD50/10 as the end point, OTP yielded a dose modification factor of 1.2. The current data indicate that OTP is a potent radioprotector and radiomitigator ameliorating the mortality and tissue injury of acute hematopoietic as well as acute gastrointestinal radiation syndrome.

Sodium ferric gluconate complex in hemodialysis patients: Adverse reactions compared to placebo and iron dextran. Parenteral iron is often required by hemodialysis patients to maintain adequate iron stores. Until recently, the only available form of intravenous iron was iron dextran, which is associated with significant adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis and death. Sodium ferric gluconate complex (SFGC) was recently approved for use in the U.S. under FDA's priority drug review. This Phase IV study was designed to evaluate the safety of a single dose of intravenous SFGC as compared to placebo and a historical iron dextran control. This multicenter, crossover, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled prospective comparative study was performed in hemodialysis patients requiring at least 125mg of elemental iron. The historical control was obtained from a meta-analysis of four publications examining outcomes in patients exposed to iron dextran. SFGC naïve patients were administered SFGC without a test dose, undiluted, at a rate of 125mg over 10 minutes, and compared to placebo comprising bacteriostatic saline. A total of 2534 patients were enrolled. The incidence of drug intolerance (an adverse event precluding re-exposure) was significantly less [0.44%, confidence interval (CI) 0.21 to 0.71%] after SFGC as compared to the iron dextran control (2.47%, CI 1.87 to 3.07%, P < 0.0001), but higher than after placebo (0.1%, P = 0.02). There was no difference found between SFGC and placebo in serious adverse events. A single life-threatening event occurred after SFGC (0.04%, CI 0.00 to 0.22%), which was significantly less than following iron dextran (0.61%, CI 0.36 to 0.86%), P = 0.0001. SFGC is well tolerated when given by intravenous push without a test dose. SFGC has a significantly lower incidence of drug intolerance and life-threatening events as compared to previous studies using iron dextran. The routine use of iron dextran in hemodialysis patients should be discontinued.

Summary Points * With increasing numbers of people worldwide on antiretroviral drugs, the need for improved and sustained global drug safety monitoring or pharmacovigilance is critical. * Pharmacovigilance includes monitoring for substandard products, diversion, inappropriate use, and toxicity and is an essential component of safe and effective drug usage. * The Forum for Collaborative HIV Research was asked to use its neutral setting for key stakeholders from the UN and government agencies, donors, industry, academia, multilateral organizations, and implementers to discuss the creation of a sustainable global pharmacovigilance system for ARVs. * Important but contrasting priorities and values among stakeholders--all of whom are dedicated to establishing global pharmacovigilance--were identified as barriers to progress. * Recognition, understanding, and respect for these contrasts is a pathway for increased collaboration and cooperation that will then lead to a sustainable system involving all stakeholders including industry and experienced regulatory agencies. Stephen Becker, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Barbara Da Silva-Tillmann, Abbott; Gerald J. Dal Pan, FDA; Rob Dintruff, Abbott; Chris Duncombe, World Health Organization; Ngozi Erondu, Global Alliance for TB Drug Development; Robert Ferris, US Agency for International Development; Benjamin Hauschild, Forum for Collaborative HIV Research; Vijaya Kuppa, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.; Fabio Lievano, Merck & Co.; Albert Mwango, Ministry of Health, Zambia; June M. Raine, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency; Lulu Oguda Mwangi, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation; James F. Rooney, Gilead Sciences; Praphan Phanuphak, Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre; Ian Sanne, Wits Health Consortium; David H. Brown Ripin, Clinton Health Access Initiative; Andy Stergachis, University of Washington; Caroline Ryan, Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator, PEPFAR; Melissa Truffa, US Food and Drug Administration; Carlie Williams, Division of AIDS, National Institutes of Health; Marco Vitoria, World Health Organization; Serge Xueref, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Sodium ferric gluconate complex in hemodialysis patients. II. Adverse reactions in iron dextran-sensitive and dextran-tolerant patients. Iron dextran administration is associated with a high incidence of adverse reactions including anaphylaxis and death. Although dextran, rather than iron, is believed to be the cause of these reactions, it is not known whether iron dextran-sensitive patients can be safely administered another form of parenteral iron, sodium ferric gluconate in sucrose (SFGC). In a 69 center, prospective, double-blind, controlled trial of safety and tolerability of SFGC, the rate of reactions to SFGC and placebo in 144 iron dextran-sensitive patients was compared with 2194 patients who were previously tolerant to iron dextran preparations. Serum tryptase levels, a marker of mast cell degranulation, also were measured. Among 143 iron dextran-sensitive patients exposed to SFGC, three (2.1%) were intolerant. All three had suspected allergic events to SFGC, including one patient with a serious reaction (0.7%). One dextran-sensitive patient (0.7%) had a suspected allergic reaction after placebo. In contrast, among 2194 iron dextran-tolerant patients, reactions to SFGC were significantly less common, with SFGC intolerance seen in seven patients (0.3%; P = 0.020), including five (0.2%) who had suspected allergic events (P = 0.010), but none who had serious events (0.0%; P = 0.061). Two iron dextran-tolerant patients (0.09%) had allergic-like reactions following placebo injections. Two of the three suspected allergic events in the iron dextran-sensitive group were confirmed as mast cell dependent by a 100% increase in serum tryptase, while there were no confirmed allergic events in the iron dextran-tolerant group. Long-term exposure to SFGC in iron dextran-sensitive patients resulted in intolerance in only one additional patient and no serious adverse events. Patients with a history of iron dextran sensitivity had approximately sevenfold higher rates of reaction to both placebo and SFGC compared to iron dextran tolerant patients. However, logistic regression analysis, performed to account for the higher reaction rate to placebo, suggests that this increased reactivity was not drug-specific nor immunologically mediated, but represented host idiosyncrasy. These results support the conclusions that reactions to SFGC can be attributed to pseudoallergy, and that SFGC is not a true allergen.