COVER SHEET FOR DOCUMENT TRANSMISSION

File: 970101_sep96_decls6_0007.txt
Page: 0007
Total Pages: 8

Subject: COVER SHEET FOR DOCUMENT TRANSMISSION                           

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003205

Folder Title: VACCINES TO PREVENT DIARRHEA IN OPERATION DESERT SHIELD                                         

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         14







                    Memorandum: Use of Centoxin in Operation Desert Shield

                    From: Jerald C. Sadoff Col MC
                           Director, Division of Communicable Diseases & Immunology
                           Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

                         Centoxin is a human monoclonal antibody which prevents
                    death from septic shock due to gram negative bacteria. The antibody
                    works by neutralizing the endotoxin which causes sepsis.     This
                    antibody has been completely safe in the over 400 patients that have
                    received it.   In septic patients with gram negative bacteremia it
                    reduced mortality by 40%.      In patients with gram negative
                    bacteremia in shock it reduced mortality by 58%. It is therefore
                    clearly indicated for the treatment of sepsis.    Wounded and burned
                    soldiers, especially those with chest and abdominal wounds,      would
                    most benefit. I estimate 2000 lives may have been saved if this
                    drug had been available during the Viet Nam conflict.      Mortality due
                    to blistering agents such as Mustard gas may in large part be due to
                    secondary infection and sepsis. Centoxin could also play a major role
                    in the treatment of such casualties.

                          Centoxin is currently being studied for use in prophylaxis
                    following thoracic or abdominal surgury or trauma.      Previous studies
                    with a less potent human serum against endotoxin showed that such
                    prophylaxis prevented septic shock, organ failure and death.
                    Centoxin will work prophylactically and should be used in all cases of
                    chest or abdominal trauma and in all burns after the fluid loss has
                    been stabilized.


               The FDA has given permission to the DOD to use Centoxin for
                    Operation Desert Shield even though the drug has not yet been
                    licensed. Two hundred doses have been purchased and shipped to
                    Saudi Arabia.    If the drug is used as I have indicated above
                    somewhere between 2000 and 20,000 doses may be required.
                    Centoxin has a long shelf life.   The current charge is $2500 per dose
                    but a large purchase such as this might allow considerable savings.
                    Once licensed this drug will become the standard of care in the U.S.
                    despite its cost because of its ability to save lives and reduce the
                    costs associated with sepsis and organ failure. The DOD has the
                    opportunity to provide such a standard prior to its availability to the
                    general population.

Document 8 f:/Week-36/BX003205/VACCINES TO PREVENT DIARRHEA IN OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/cover sheet for document transmission:1224960931177
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003205
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = VACCINES TO PREVENT DIARRHEA IN OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
Folder Seq # = 14
Subject = COVER SHEET FOR DOCUMENT TRANSMISSION
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 24-DEC-1996