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Protexia™ Protexia™ is a recombinant form of human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a naturally occurring protein found in minute quantities in blood. BChE functions as a natural bioscavenger, like a sponge, to absorb toxins such as organophosphate poisons (OP), nerve agents and certain pesticides, before they cause neurological damage. Studies performed by the U.S. military, using plasma-derived BChE, have indicated that increasing BChE concentrations in the blood protects laboratory animals from the toxic effects of nerve agents. While the potential utility of BChE has been known for over a decade, a major limitation on its widespread use has been the inability to produce it in commercial volumes. Nexia believes that its transgenic production technology can overcome this limitation. Abstracts
Nerve Agents Nerve agents are extremely toxic chemicals that attack the nervous system. They were first developed as insecticides in the 1930s. Their potency was recognized during World War II, and they were developed as nerve agents for use in chemical warfare. Most recently, terrorists have deployed nerve agents as a weapon. One of the most tragic incidents occurred in 1995 when sarin was released in the Tokyo subway system, injuring thousands and killing 12. Nerve agents enter the blood stream via inhalation (tabun, sarin, soman) or absorption through the skin (VX). They travel from the blood to the brain and interrupt nerve-to-nerve function, thereby causing massive convulsions and death in severe cases. Symptoms occur rapidly upon inhalation of nerve agent vapour or may be delayed for hours for skin exposure. There are treatments available but they must be administered quickly after exposure. After severe exposure, permanent damage to the central nervous system frequently occurs. Nexia Uses Biomimicry One of Nexia's founding principles is to seek out what Mother Nature has perfected over millions of years and mimic that engineering in Nexia's recombinant transgenic platform. This is known as biomimcry. In the world, BChE is naturally found to scavenge toxins in the environment. The bioscavenging nature of enzymes like BChE protects certain animals, such as rats and mice, from toxins in their natural habitat. Using biomimicry, Nexia is investigating the use of rBChE to protect humans from the toxic effects of nerve agents.
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