Humanitarian research needed

Researchers are pushing for ne antidotes against organophosphate compounds to be developed, according to a report in the BMJ.

Organophosphate poisoning is a leading cause of premature death in developing countries

Researchers are pushing for new antidotes against organophosphate compounds to be developed, according to a report in the BMJ. Organophosphates have been used in chemicals attacks in the West, and are responsible for multiple poisonings in developing countries.

Despite organophosphates being used in chemical and nerve agent attacks, such as the Sarin attack in Japan and being a leading cause of premature death in the developing world, no antidotes have been tested in clinical trials in over 30 years. Organophosphate poisoning is a leading cause of premature death in developing countries

Information on potential treatments has been available for years, but neither the military nor the pharmaceutical industry has attempted to test them or develop new drugs. An international collaboration is needed to make a concerted effort to develop and test new treatments that would benefit both groups, say the scientists.

According to the authors of the report, the pharmaceutical industry has little incentive to develop new drugs for use primarily in developing countries. However, on humanitarian grounds alone, research into organophosphate pesticide poisoning in developing countries should become international policy, they argue.