HHS buys children's version of radiation emergency drug

FDA Consumer, July-August, 2005

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is purchasing liquid potassium iodide (KI) for children to be used in the event of a release of radioactive iodine, a commonly produced material in commercial nuclear power facilities. The department has awarded a $5.7 million contract to Fleming & Company Pharmaceuticals of Fenton, Mo., to manufacture and deliver 1.7 million children's doses of liquid KI. The supply is being purchased under the BioShield program.

The liquid KI formulation is the first to be developed specifically for children. Its black raspberry taste is designed to make it more palatable. Current adult dose tablets must be broken into pieces to get a child's dose.

The FDA has approved KI in tablet form as a nonprescription drug to block the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. In January 2005, the FDA approved Fleming's product ThyroShield Potassium Iodide Oral Solution for children.

Because the thyroid gland rapidly absorbs any iodine in the body, people need to take KI soon after an incident that involves the release of radioactive iodine. The KI saturates the thyroid gland with iodine, preventing the thyroid from absorbing more radioactive iodine. Children are the most susceptible to the dangerous effects of radioactive iodine.

Children's KI will be available to states that receive approval from the department for plans they develop to distribute the product in communities around commercial nuclear power plants.