Ukraine Braces For “Nuclear Catastrophe;” Partners Israeli Firm To Save Thousands From Deadly Radiation
In its fourth year of war with Russia, Ukraine has taken steps to prepare itself for a nuclear catastrophe. With multiple nuclear power plants in the line of fire and rising nuclear rhetoric from Moscow, Kyiv has gained access to an Israeli drug that could save thousands of lives in the case of a radiation accident.
Israeli biotech firm Pluri, a developer of placenta-based cell technology, has signed an agreement with Ukraine to stockpile medication for deadly radiation poisoning that uses cells grown from donated placentas.
The protracted war between Russia and Ukraine has increased the chances of a nuclear fallout, either due to the shelling of nuclear power plants or, in a worst-case scenario, the decision by Moscow to use nukes as a last resort to end the war.
To prepare for such an eventuality, last month, Haifa-based Pluri (formerly Pluristem) entered into an exclusive collaboration with Ukrainian umbilical cord blood bank Hemafund to stockpile and distribute its placental expanded cell therapy, PLX-R18, as a potential treatment for life-threatening radiation sickness, the Times of Israel reported.
Pluri and Hemafund announced their collaboration to advance clinical trials, register the drug’s therapy as a radiation countermeasure, and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for the drug in Ukraine. The agreement has the potential to generate over US$100 million in value for both parties.
More.. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/ukraine-prepares-for-nuclear-catastrophe/
