Ukraine prepares for nuclear emergency, Israel to help save thousands
Photo: New safe confinement at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (wikipedia.org)
Ukraine has gained access to an Israeli drug that could save thousands of lives in the event of a radiation emergency, according to The Times of Israel.
The nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine has highlighted the risk of nuclear fallout amid repeated shelling of a nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats to use nuclear weapons.
In March, the Israeli biotech company Pluri, based in Haifa, signed an agreement with Ukraine’s cord blood bank Hemafund to store and distribute PLX-R18, a placental cell therapy drug with the potential to treat life-threatening radiation sickness.
Pluri and Hemafund said they will jointly seek to advance clinical trials to register the therapy as a radiation countermeasure and secure regulatory approval from Ukraine’s Ministry of Health. The collaboration is expected to potentially generate more than $100 million.
“Our cryostorage facilities and logistics network position us well to support the introduction of PLX-R18 as a potential vital tool for radiation emergency preparedness in Ukraine,” said Hemafund founder Yaroslav Issakov. “While we hope such treatments remain precautionary, our goal is to stand ready to distribute this potential therapy in the event of an emergency.”
How 'miracle drug' works
In the event of a nuclear attack or accident, people are exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation, which may lead to Hematopoietic Acute Radiation Syndrome. This destroys bone marrow and blood cells, resulting in severe anemia, infections, and bleeding. Without effective treatment, victims typically die within four to eight weeks.
Pluri develops cell technologies derived from the human placenta. For the past two decades, the company has focused on developing 3D technologies that replicate the communication and interaction of living cells with the body during growth and development.
The company uses stem cells extracted from placentas of healthy women who delivered by C-section in hospitals across Israel. These cells are cultured in patented 3D bioreactors that recreate the microenvironment of the human body.
Inside the bioreactors, stem cells anchor onto scaffolds and begin “communicating” and multiplying, mimicking their natural behavior in the human body, while also secreting proteins to expand under near-natural conditions.
Using its 3D propagation method, a single placenta-derived cell can be multiplied into billions. Cells from just one placenta can treat more than 20,000 patients.
“In the end of that process, we have a vial that contains a specific amount of our placental expanded cells depending on the dosage needed for the patient,” said Bar Zvi. “Once the vial with the cells is injected into the muscle, it stimulates the human body’s own capabilities for the reactivation and regeneration of blood cells, mitigates the effects of radiation exposure and we see the recovery happening.”
The company claims its treatment restores all three types of blood cells produced in bone marrow: white and red blood cells, and platelets.
Successful trials
Pluri said PLX-R18 has been safely tested on both humans and animals. In recent animal studies, survival rates rose from 29% in the placebo group to 97% in the treatment group.
When administered as a preventive measure, 24 hours before exposure or 72 hours after - PLX-R18 increased survival rates from 4% (placebo) to 74%.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved PLX-R18 as an investigational treatment for radiation sickness and granted it “orphan drug” status, which applies to therapies for rare diseases. This means that in the event of a nuclear disaster, Pluri would be permitted to use the treatment to aid radiation victims.
Chornobyl incident
The Pluri-Hemafund agreement came just two weeks after a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the containment arch built over the destroyed reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Though it took considerable effort to extinguish the resulting fire, the blaze was eventually put out. However, the consequences could have triggered a nuclear disaster.
Ukraine also faces a second major radiation threat: the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Russian forces have occupied the facility since March 4, 2022, and have mined all of its key areas.
The US and Ukraine are reportedly working on a joint arrangement for oversight of the Zaporizhzhia plant.
Additionally, Russian drones have been spotted near the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant.
