DRDO lab develops agent to protect soldiers

A substance used by athletes to improve performance levels can now be utilised to save the lives of security personnel exposed to intentional or accidental cyanide poisoning, according to scientists.

Alpha-Ketoglutarate is in demand from the defence forces for use as part of their strategy to handle any chemical attack situation where soldiers are exposed to lethal chemicals.

"We have developed an Alpha-Ketoglutarate, which will give relief to our security men from the deadly cyanide effect," Dr R Vijay Raghavan, director of Gwalior-based Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), told PTI.

Besides military uses, the agent could also be of immense help for fire-fighters who often get exposed to toxic fumes during rescue operations.

"It could be used in cases of intentional or accidental poisoning having military as well as civil uses. The agent has been developed as part of strategy to handle any nuclear, biological and chemical attacks," W Selvamurthy, Chief Controller Research and Development (Life Sciences) at DRDO, said.

Cyanide blocks cellular respiration almost immediately after it is consumed.

The DRDE researchers said the product has been successfully developed as a tablet and has completed all the laboratory tests but requires clearances from different authorities before being used as a drug.

"The anti-cyanide agent will later go into human trials and would also seek approval from the Drug Controller General of India before being finally put to use," Raghavan said.

DRDE is an indigenous lab of DRDO.